i BOSTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BEQUEST OF EMMA L. CONANT IN MEMORY OF HER HUSBAND Ifouris &. Cmtant 19 5 1 Lyndon Oak of Garland HISTORY OF GARLAND MAINE BY LYNDON OAK DOVER, MAINE THE OBSERVER PUBLISHING CO. 1912 3A G b FP- TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Beginnings in the Valley of the Kenduskeag, 5 Grant of the Township, now Garland, to Wil- liams College, 5 Original Proprietors, 9 The Waldo Patent, 13 Original Designation, 15 Boundaries and Natural Features, 15 A Notable Natural Feature, 17 Water Courses, 18 Main Stream, 19 Sources of Information Relating to the Local History of Garland, 19 Stories of the Pioneers, 21 Disappearing, 23 Beginnings, 24 The First Opening, 24 Conflicting Claims, 26 Events of 1802 in the Township, 27 The First Family, 30 The First Fruit Nursery, 33 Early Buildings, 35 The First Saw-mill, 36 Story of the Crank, 37 Raising of the First Saw-mill, 46 The First Winter in the Township, 49 Township No. 3 in 1803, 52 IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Page An Early Name, 53 Old Names, 53 In Quest of Food, 54 Lincolntown in 1804, 57 In Peril of Shipwreck, 59 From Frankfort to the Township, 59 Early Births in the Township, 62 Lincoln town in 1805, 63 A Striking Contrast, 63 Burned Out, 66 A Spacious Sleeping Apartment, 68 The Surprise, 69 A Discovery, 71 Another Fire in 1805, 72 First Beginning in the Southwest Part of the Township, 74 Coming of Mechanics, 75 A Large Crop of Corn, 77 The First Strawberry Festival, 78 The First School, 79 A Disappointment, 80 The Township in 1806, 82 The First Tanner, 83 The First Physician, 85 The First Visit of a Minister, 86 First Winter School, 87 Early Marriages, 95 The Township in 1807, 96 The First Blacksmith, 97 The Township in 1808, 99 The Township in 1809, 100 A Notable Barn, 102 A More Notable Barn, 103 A Remarkable Journey in 1809, 104 TABLE OF CONTENTS V Page The First Death in the Township, 105 The Township in 1810, 105 A Sorrowful Event, 107 The First Grist Mill, 108 Death of the First Physician, 109 Questionings, 110 Was it a Misfortune? 112 Petition for an Act of Incorporation, 114 What's in a Name? 115 A Copy of the Petition for Incorporation, 118 Act of Incorporation, 121 Garland in 1811, 123 The First Town Meeting, 126 The Second Town Meeting, 129 The Third Town Meeting of 1811, 133 The Fourth Town Meeting of 1811, 134 Garland in 1812, 135 The First Vote for Governor, 136 The First Voting List on Record, 137 First Vote for Member of Congress for the Ken- nebec District, 139 The First Vote for a Presidential Elector, 139 Construction of Early Houses, 140 How Houses Were Warmed, 141 An All-Day Fire, 142 How the Houses Were Lighted, 143 Furniture of the Times, 143 The Clothing of the Inhabitants, 144 Their Food, 145 A Luxury, 146 Social Life, 147 The Conquest of the Forest, 148 Planting Corn, 149 Garland in 1813, 151 VI TABLE OF CONTENTS Page West Garland, 152 Garland in 1814, 153 The War of 1812, 154 Garland's First Military Company, 156 A Midnight Summons, 157 Enlistments, 161 Garland in 1815, 162 Garland in 1816 (Petition for a New State), 163 Change of Place, 165 Annual Town Meeting of 1816, 166 A New County, 167 The Year Without a Summer, 168 Garland in the Cold Year, 171 Incidents From the Diary of Stephen A. Berry, 173 Garland in 1817, 175 A Cheering Change, 176 Friends in Need, 176 The Annual Meeting of 1817, 177 The First County Road, 178 Ballot for Governor in 1817, 179 Garland in 1818, 180 The Town's Treasury Boxes, 181 Vote for Governor in 1818, 181 The Ohio Fever, 182 A Favorable Season, 182 A Revival of the Military Spirit, 182 The First Post-office, 184 Garland in 1819, 186 Garland From 1810 to 1820, 189 Families Who Moved Away During the Second Decade, 190 Garland in 1820, 193 A New Epoch, 195 Garland in 1821, 197 TABLE OF CONTENTS Vll Page Action of the Town Relating to Lots of Land Reserved for Public Purposes, 198 Number of Families in What is Now Garland Village in 1821, 199 Garland in 1822, 201 Newcomers in 1822, 202 Search for a Missing Child in a Neighboring Town in Which Citizens of Garland Partici- pated, 204 Masonic Lodge, 205 Garland in 1823, 205 First Store in Garland Village, 207 Garland in 1824, 209 A Mustering of the Militia, 210 A Political Campaign Projected, 211 Garland in 1825, 211 Fall Elections, 212 Destructive Fires in 1825, 212 Garland in 1826, 215 Garland in 1827, 218 Congressional Convention, 219 Fall Election, 219 An Early Spring, 220 Garland in 1828, 221 The First Cemetery, 223 Garland in 1 829, 223 The Genesis of the Temperance Reform, 224 Review of Town's Growth From 1820 to 1830, 225 Garland in 1830, 226 Increasing Prosperity, 228 Garland in 1831, 229 An Abundant Crop of Corn, 229 Garland in 1832, 230 Garland in 1833, 232 Vlll TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Garland in 1834, 233 A Business Center, 234 The Hop Industry, 235 Garland in 1835, 236 An Irate Citizen, 237 Division of the Ministerial Fund, 238 The Aid of the Town to Some of Its Poorer Citizens, 240 Tragic Death of a Prominent Citizen, 241 An Important Road Contemplated, 242 The First Meeting House in Garland, 243 Garland in 1836, 246 Bears, 247 Fall Elections of 1836, 247 Garland in 1837, 248 Fall Elections, 248 Hard Times, 250 Surplus Revenue, 251 An Elephant, 251 Garland in 1838, 254 Garland's Artillery Company, 255 A Foreign Venture, 256 The Advent of the Martin Family, 257 "All is Well That Ends Well," 259 Garland in 1839, 260 Garland in the Aroostook War, 261 Growth From 1830 to 1840, 270 Garland in 1840, 271 Appropriations in 1840, 272 Fall Elections, 1840, 272 Garland in 1841, 273 The Fall Election of 1841, 274 The Avenue Road, 275 Garland in 1842, 275 TABLE OF CONTENTS IX Page Fall Elections in 1842, 276 A Notable Anti-Slavery Meeting, 277 Garland in 1843, 277 The Rebuilding of the Long Bridge, 280 A Remarkable Religious Fanaticism, 281 Garland in 1844, 283 Autumnal Election, 284 Garland in 1845, 285 Annual State Election, 285 Garland in 1846, 287 State Election of 1846, 287 Garland in 1847, 288 Town House, 289 State Election of 1847, 290 Action of the Town on Proposed Amendments of the State Constitution, 291 Garland in 1848, 291 State Election in 1848, 292 The First High School in Garland, 293 A Tornado, 294 Garland in 1849, 295 Garland in 1850, 297 Autumnal Elections of 1850, 297 Garland in the Contest for United States Sena- tor, 298 Garland in 1851, 299 Garland in 1852, 300 Autumnal Elections of 1852, 301 Garland in 1853, 301 Autumnal Elections in 1853, 302 Garland in 1854, 302 The Autumnal Elections, 303 Garland in 1855, 304 Autumnal Elections, 305 X TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Garland in 1856, 305 Clouds in the Political Horizon, 306 Autumnal Elections of 1856, 306 Presidential Electors, 307 Garland in 1857, 308 Appropriations of 1857, 308 Autumnal Elections of 1857, 308 Garland in 1858, 309 Appropriations of 1858, 309 Autumnal Elections of 1858, 310 Garland in 1859, 310 Autumnal Elections of 1859, 311 Garland in 1860, 311 Autumnal Election, 312 Ballot for Presidential Electors in 1860, 312 Garland in 1861, 313 Autumnal Election of 1861, 314 Garland in 1862, 314 Autumnal Election of 1862, 315 Garland in 1863, 315 Autumnal Elections in 1863, 316 Garland in 1864, 316 Autumnal Election of 1864, 317 Garland in 1865, 317 Autumnal Election of 1865, 318 Garland in 1866, 318 Autumnal Election of 1866, 319 Garland in 1867, 319 Autumnal Election of 1867, 320 Garland in 1868, 320 Autumnal Election of 1868, 321 Garland in 1869, 322 Autumnal Election, 322 Special Meeting, 323 TABLE OF CONTENTS XI Page Garland in the Temperance Reform, 323 The Washingtonian Movement, 328 An Event Worthy of Record, 329 Garland's Action on a Proposed Amendment of the State Constitution, 329 Before Roads Were Made in the Township, 330 Early Lines of Approach to the Township, 330 Early Roads, 331 History of the Principal Existing Roads, 332 Second Road, 332 Road to Dexter, 333 The Present Trend of Merchandise, 337 A Sketch of the History of the Congregational Church of Garland, 338 Pastorate of the Rev. S. S. Drake, 349 Historical Sketch of the Free Baptist Church, 350 Garland in the War of the Rebellion, 359 Early Demonstrations, 359 Calls for Men in 1861, 360 Action of the Town Relating to Families of the Men Who Had Enlisted in the Ranks of the Army in 1861, 360 Names of Residents of Garland Who Volunteered to Fight Under the Old Flag, 363 A List of Drafted Men Who Furnished Substi- tutes, 365 A List of Non-resident Volunteers Assigned to Garland, 365 Reenlistments, 366 Xll TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Names and Brief Historv of the Men Who Enlisted in 1861, Names and Brief History of the Men Who Enlisted in 1862, The convenience, dispatch and comfort of journeying now are in strange contrast with the discomfort and hardships of traveling at the opening of the present century. At the opening of the year 1805, there were living in Hopkinton, N. H., three families who had determined to leave the homes of their birth, the friends of their youth, and the associations of their earlier life and establish new homes in a remote township of eastern Maine. These were the families of Amos Gordon, including himself, his wife, several sons and four daugh- 64 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE ters, whose names were Polly, Betsey, Nancy and Miriam ; John Chandler and family, consisting of himself, his wife and several children, among whom was our late and well remembered citizen, James J. Chandler, then a boy of seven years ; Moses Gordon and his wife and a daughter of fourteen months. The families were accompanied by Jeremiah Flanders and Sampson Silver, who afterwards became citizens of the township. The latter was a brother of Moses Gordon's wife. The company of emi- grants embraced men and women in the vigor of life, boys and girls and children of tender age. Early in February, their preparations having been completed, they bade adieu to relatives and friends whom they might never again see, and taking passage upon open sleds they committed themselves to a sea of snow of uncommon depth even for an old-fashioned New England winter. The journey was made with horse teams. They were obliged to take with them supplies both for the journey and for immediate use at the journey's end, and such household goods as were necessary to meet the simple requirements of pioneer life. They had scarcely started on their journey when they encountered a storm, which was the first of a succession of storms that assailed them almost every day until they reached the end. There was an unlimited expanse of deep snow on every side of them and furious clouds of snow, driven by fierce winds, above them. The several teams, though traveling as near each other as was con- sistent with convenience and safety, were sometimes hidden from each other through almost the entire day in "the tumultuous privacy of storm." There was, how- ever, one mitigating circumstance. Much of the latter part of their route led them through dense forests that shielded them somewhat from the violence of the storms. But their progress was toilsome and tedious. Much of HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 65 the country through which they passed was sparsely set- tled. There were but few public houses on the latter part of their route, but the hospitality of the scattered families was limited only by their ability. When this party of emigrants reached the town of Harmony, they were tendered the use of the house and barn of Mr. Leighton, who, with his worthy wife, administered to their wants and comfort to the full extent of their ability. Mrs. Leighton had, a few months earlier, pre- sented her husband with twin children, who, disturbed by some of the ills of childhood, cried vociferously through a large part of the night. The mother walked the room with them, carrying each by turn, endeavor- ing to soothe them by singing that grand old tune, Old Hundred. It was a satisfaction to know that reared by such a mother, under the inspiration of such music, they became substantial citizens of an intelligent com- munity. The snow had reached such depth when the party arrived at Harmony that a detention of several days seemed inevitable. The sleds were unloaded and the men started with their teams with the intention of breaking their way to the end of their route. When they had reached the next township, now Ripley, they were much elated to find that, in anticipation of their coming, the settlers of Lincolntown had broken the way through the snow to that point as an expression of their satisfaction at the prospect of so large an accession to their numbers. Returning to Harmony the party reloaded their sleds and renewed their journey. At nightfall they found themselves within the limits of the present town of Dexter, where they passed the night in an old camp. The night of the next day, February 22, 1805, found them at the end of their journey. They had taken 66 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE twenty-one days to perform a journey of about two hundred miles. The fast sailing steamers of the present day would make their trips across the Atlantic Ocean and return in an equal period of time. Amos and Moses Gordon, with their families, went directly to the log house that had been built the preced- ing autumn, where the}r quickly started a fire with fuel that had been prepared and left in the house. When ready to cook their first meal Mr. Gordon, assuming a mysterious air, went to a barrel that at the close of the previous season's operations had been left partly filled with pork, intending to surprise the hungry members of his household with a generous piece of that article. The surprise was complete- — but Mr. Gordon was the individual surprised. . In the interval between autumn and the time of the arrival of the family some of the original dwellers of the "forest primeval" had appropriated the meat. John Chandler and family spent the first night in Lincoln town with the family of Joseph Garland. After- wards they were quartered a few weeks with the family of Justus Harriman. Burned Out The Gordon and Chandler families had experienced severe hardships during their recent journey to Lincoln - town and hardships were still in store for them. They were yet to be buffeted by forces that seemed to chal- lenge their right to a foothold in the new township. They had been assailed by violent storms through weary days while on their way to it. Now that they had 67 safelv reached it a more severe trial awaited some of their numbers. While in the township in the autumn of 1804, Amos Gordon purchased a piece of land just, within the limits of the present town of Dexter, about two miles away from his own land, for his son Moses Gordon. A small opening had been made upon it, and a cabin of logs with a bark roof had been built. This would shelter his family until better accommo- dations could be provided. In the month of March, after they had recovered from the fatigue of their recent journey and a hard crust had formed upon the surface of the deep snow, Moses Gordon, assisted by other mem- bers of the family, embraced the opportunity to haul his furniture, household goods and other needful things to his cabin on a hand-sled. Having finished this work, he repaired to the little cabin early one bright morning and arranged his scanty supply of furniture so as to give the one solitary apartment as cheerful an aspect as possi- ble. After building a fire in the stone fire-place and guarding it, as he believed, from danger of accident, he returned to get Mrs. Gordon to introduce her to the new home. The latter hastily preparing herself, they started on their morning's walk. The pure, bracing air of the early spring morning imparted buoyancy to their movements and inspired courage for the encounter with the hardships immediately before them, and inspired hopes of the "better time coming.'' A brisk walk car- ried them to the little opening which two hours earlier had contained all their worldly goods, when, to their utter dismay, the site of their little cabin presented nothing but a heap of blackened and smouldering ruins. Their household goods, their wearing apparel, their scanty supply of food, all the articles for use and con- venience that had been made by Mrs. Gordon's own hands — all these things had disappeared in a brief hour. 68 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE This sudden change of prospect was too much even for the cheerful, the hopeful, the courageous Mrs. Gordon. She fainted and fell upon the icy crust that covered the snow. When consciousness returned, she found herself sitting upon an old chest that had been left outside the cabin because it was worthless. It was the only thing that had escaped the fire. A sickening smoke was curling up from the blackened ruins, as if in mockery of her grief. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon returned wearily to Amos Gordon's to remain until other arrangements for housekeeping could be made. During the spring of 1805, Mr. Gordon selected, and afterwards purchased lot ten, range five. The year following he felled six acres of trees on the lot and built a house on the site now occupied by the Murdock build- ings. The boards which covered the house were hauled from Elkinstown (Dexter) with an ox-team. It required two days to go to that place and return with a load, although the distance was only five miles. Early the following autumn he moved his family into the house. The boards with which the house was cov- ered, shrunk by the heat of the fire in the large stone fire- place, leaving openings for the winds to enter unbidden. The members of the family would sometimes awaken in the morning to find that wind and snow had provided an extra covering for their beds. Thus it was with many of the houses of the earlier settlers. A Spacious Sleeping Apartment John Chandler and his family, who accompanied the Gordon families on their journey to Lincolntown, spent HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 69 the night in the township under the hospitable roof of Joseph Garland. The next day they found quarters in the cabin of Justus Harriman, where they remained until the first of May. Mr. Chandler had purchased of Arnold Murray his interest in lot eight, range nine, which joined Mr. Harriman's lot. Mr. Murray had felled an opening on this lot three years earlier and had raised one or two crops there. Henry Merrill, who mar- ried a granddaughter of John Chandler, now owns and occupies the same lot. Mr. Harriman's little cabin afforded close quarters for his own family. There was scarcely more than standing room for two families. Lodgings for the Chandler family must be sought elsewhere. Necessity often enforces compliance with accommodations that accord neither with choice nor convenience. In this case it compelled the Chandler family to resort to the barn for lodgings. Beds were, therefore, placed in the barn and comfortably furnished. The inconvenience in the case was in getting to and from the barn through the snow and water of the warm spring days. Repairing to the barn for the night without adequate protection for the feet, the hosiery of the family became saturated with water. Cold nights followed warm days and the footwear would freeze. Fruitful in expedients, Mrs. Chandler wrung the water from the hosiery and placing it between the feather and straw beds it came out in the morning in good condition for use. The Surprise Soon after the arrival of the Chandler family in the township Mr. Chandler commenced preparations to build 70 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE a house. Before the coming of May he had a frame up, ready to cover; also a supply of boards and nails. Keeping house at Mr. Harriman's, where the room was so limited, had become irksome to both families. Mrs. Chandler cherished a strong desire for a home of her own at the earliest possible date. One day, early in May, Mr. Chandler was about to start on a business trip to Bangor on horseback. He would be absent three days. As he rode from the dooiyard Mrs. Chandler mysteriously hinted that on his return he would find something to surprise him. He had no sooner disap- peared in the forest than she summoned their hired man, Sampson Silver, to her assistance, directing him to equip himself with the necessary tools and go to the house frame which was a short distance away and nail to frame and rafters enough boards to shield herself and familv from wind and rain. Mr. Silver, entering into the spirit of the joke, had accomplished the work he was directed to do by nightfall of the first day. At the close of the second day, which opened auspiciously for the accom- plishment of their plans, beds, cooking utensils and other things necessary to a rude form of housekeeping had been moved in and the family had taken possession of their new quarters. But now to their dismay ominous clouds were rapidly gathering. About midnight while the members of this little family might have been indulging in pleasant dreams, inspired by the sentiment that "be it ever so humble there is no place like home," the rain suddenly came, and, to use a modern phrase, "the storm center" seemed to rest directly over the devoted household. With the ready command of expedients characteristic of the earl}7 settlers, Mrs. Chandler promptly summoned the hired man, and together they rolled beds and bed- ding into the smallest possible compass and covered them w ! with boards which were at hand, thus saving them from getting wet. The morning of the third day dawned pleasantly and it was spent in obliterating the traces of the recent rain and preparations for the reception of Mr. Chandler on his return from Bangor. The mind of the latter as he approached his home was sharply exercised over the solution of the character of the surprise that awaited his return. Emerging from the shadows of the forest just as night was shutting over the scene, into the little opening which he had often looked upon as the site of his future residence, he met his wife who smilingly invited him to the comforts of their new home. This was the surprise so mysteriously suggested as he rode from the Harriman cabin three days earlier. Mr. Chandler now continued the work on the new house which Mrs. Chandler had so heroically begun, until it reached the condition of a comfortable dwelling. A Discovery The difficulty of procuring seed for crops constituted one form of hardship for the early settlers of a new township. They were often compelled to travel many miles on foot for this purpose and bear their purchases home on their shoulders. Mr. Chandler was, however, more fortunate in supply- ing himself with seed for his first crop of potatoes. He found a plat that had been planted with potatoes the preceding year by Mr. Murray, who had left the crop in the ground through the winter, which, covered by the deep snow, had not been frozen. From this plat he dug 72 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE eight bushels of the tubers that were in good condition for seed. From seed thus obtained many crops were raised in this and subsequent years by Mr. Chandler and his neighbors. This discovery was more to the Chandlers than the acquisition of a thousand gold dollars to a Vanderbilt of the present time. Arnold Murray, who had made a beginning on lot eight, range nine, in 1802 and had sold his interest in the lot to John Chandler in 1805, made another begin- ning on lot eleven, range nine, in 1805, where he lived for several years. This lot afterwards passed into the hands of a Mr. Besse and has since been known as the Besse place, although it has passed through the hands of several different owners since. Another Fire in 1805 An ever present menace to the inhabitants of a new township is the liability to the loss of their homes and property by fire. The flues that conducted the smoke from the fierce fires of the large stone fire-places of their humble cabins were often built of sticks and clay. Such chimneys would sometimes burn and the debris falling into the capacious fire-place below, the cabin would escape destruction by the fiery agent. But the more immediate danger from fire arose from the necessity of clearing land for crops by burning the forest growth. In times of drought the fire which had been set to clear the lands for the season's crops would be driven by adverse winds towards the buildings of the settlers and their homes would suddenly disappear. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 73 Josiah Bartlett, who had made the first beginning in the township, was the subject of a misfortune of this kind in 1805. He had built a small but comfortable house and barn, and with characteristic prudence, had laid in supplies for use through the summer and autumn, and seed for his crops. He had also provided himself with an abundance of clothing. In his barn were a yoke of oxen, a horse and his farming tools. One day while at work at a considerable distance from the buildings they took fire from some burning piles near them. His sister, afterwards a Mrs. Chase of Epping, N. H., who was keeping house for him, was absent on a visit at William Sargent's, who lived where James Rideout now resides. When he saw that his buildings were on fire he hastened to them, reaching them just in time to save one feather-bed. The horse and one ox were burned to death in the barn. The other ox died the next day. In relating these occurrences years later to children and friends Mr. Bartlett used to say that as he could not save the buildings by his unaided efforts, and knowing that there was no human being near enough to respond to cries for assistance, he carried the feather-bed he had snatched from the flames to a safe distance from the burning ruins and lying upon it, he calmly watched the progress of the destructive elements and congratulated himself that the calamity was no worse. Mr. Bartlett lost a second barn a few vears later and with it some valuable stock. 74 First Beginning in the Southwest Part of the Township The coming of Edward Fifield into the township, in company with the Gordon and Chandler families in the autumn of 1804, to clear land whereon to establish a home has been noted. This was the first beginning in the southwest part of the township. Mr. Fifield came from the town of Ware, N. H. Early in the spring of 1805 he returned to the township to build a house and make preparations for raising crops. He was accom- panied by several sons and Mr. John Hayes, a carpenter, who took charge of building the house which was located on the site of the buildings upon the Joel W. Otis place. After clearing several acres for a crop of wheat, the seed, which had been purchased of Cornelius Coolidge of Elkinstown (Dexter), must be brought to the place where it was to be sown, and in the absence of any other mode of conveyance, it was borne in bags upon the shoulders of Mr. Fifield and his stalwart sons. As there was no trail leading directly to the Coolidge place, the Fifields followed a circuitous route which had been marked for the convenience of others. This route led them across the outlet of Pleasant Pond to the Murdock place, thence easterly to the brook a little to the east of Maple Grove Cemetery, thence northwesterly to the Dearborn place, thence westerly on the line of the present center road to the Coolidge place. The distance traveled to the Coolidge place and back must have been twelve miles. The field they had cleared embraced several acres and the}7 were obliged to make several trips to get the required quantity of seed. At the close of the spring farming Mr. Fifield returned to New Hampshire for his HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 75 family, which before the close of June, was safely estab- lished in the new home. Coming of Mechanics *& Nearly all the immigrants to the township during the first two or three years were farmers, who could build rude cabins and perform other necessary work without the aid of skilled labor. With prudent foresight they brought with them wearing apparel and other articles of prime necessity to meet immediate wants. But as time passed and numbers increased and wants multiplied, there was a demand for mechanics, and mechanics came. Two or three of this useful class of citizens came at an early date. These were followed by others in 1805. In those earlier days of the township the mechanic could not depend upon constant employment at his trade. It was, therefore, the common practice for this class of men to provide themselves with land so that they might resort to the source that supplies, directly or indirectly, universal humanity with food. John Hayes came into the township in 1805 to do the carpentry upon the house of Edward Fifield, whose daughter he subsequently married. He purchased lot ten in range two and in 1806 built a house upon it, where he lived until his death. The place where he lived is now owned and occupied by S. M. Paul. In March, 1805, the first shoemaker made his appear- ance in the township in the person of Enoch Jackman, who emigrated from Salisbury, Mass. Mr. Jackman established his family upon lot eight, range six, where Landeras Grant had made a beginning two years earlier. 76 HTSTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE The place was afterwards known as the Henry Calef place. No family lives upon it at the present time. Mr. Jackman was a faithful and accommodating work- man and was regarded as a valuable acquisition to the township. Like other men of his trade he went from house to house for the families who furnished the stock, carrying his tools with him. He charged seventy -five cents for his services per day and the making of two pairs of shoes was a day's work. He was of a kindly and social disposition and his narrations of the experi- ences of life in the new township gathered from the lips of his patrons, ranging from the ludicrous to the pathetic, were listened to with great interest. More- over the click of his hammer upon the old-fashioned lap-stone was prophetic of comfort in the wintry days coming. While on a visit to the township previous to his immigration he humorously boasted that he would bring with him a shoemaker, a schoolmaster and a schoolmistress. The promised shoemaker was embraced in his own personality. Two of his daughters taught school in the old schoolhouse that stood in the corner nearly opposite the present schoolhouse in district number eight. Both were women of great physical strength, and it was a venturesome youth who dared invoke their dis- pleasure. The promised schoolmaster never appeared. Mr. Jackman had been favored with a good education for the times and possessed a remarkable memory. Tradition says of him that after listening to a sermon, although appearing to have been asleep during its delivery, he would repeat nearly the whole of it without apparent effort. Mr. Jackman lived on the Calef place only a few years. His second residence in the township was on lot nine, range ten, now owned by Henry Merrill. In the spring of 1805, Nathan Merrill, a carpenter and spinning-wheel maker, moved into the township and HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 77 established a home on the easterly part of lot six, range two, opposite the present residence of Glenn Morgan. To the present generation it may seem almost incredi- ble that during the opening years of the present century, and within the memory of many now living, the yarn that entered into the clothing of the inhabitants of the Province of Maine, whether woolen, cotton or flaxen, was spun by hand on the old-fashioned spinning-wheel. Spinning was a widely diffused industry and the monoto- nous hum of the spinning-wheel was heard in every well- ordered household. The manufacturer of a spinning- wheel, was therefore, regarded as a useful citizen. John Knight, who two years earlier had married into the Grant family, located and built upon the westerly part of lot six, range two, in 1805. The site of his house is marked by the old cellar that may still be seen a short distance east of the present residence of Albert Grinnell. Enoch Clough, for many years a well-known citizen of Garland, came to the township in 1805. Simon French also came the same year. A Large Crop of Corn Wm. Godwin, who had purchased one hundred acres of land of David A. Gove and had felled an opening on it in 1804, enlarged it this year and raised a large crop of corn. The large crops of corn and wheat that were early realized attracted many persons to the township. The site of his buildings was opposite Maple Grove Cemetery. 78 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The First Strawberry Festival Peter Chase had made a beginning on lot seven, range nine in 1802. A year later he cleared land and sowed grass seed on it. In 1804, that most delicious berry, the strawberry, appeared. In 1805 they were quite abundant. In the meantime Mr. Chase had built a small house. His nearest neighbor, Moses Smith, had made a begin- ning on the adjoining lot. Chase and Smith were young men without families and lived together in the house of the former. When the berries had ripened those men conceived the plan of calling the scattered inhabitants together to share with them a feast of ber- ries. In response to the invitation the people of the entire township assembled at the strawberry field at the appointed time. At the end of an hour spent in pick- ing berries they were invited to the house, where to their surprise and gratification, they found a table cov- ered with substantial food which had been provided by their bachelor friends. With the addition of strawber- ries, and the cream that had been brought by some of the company, and tea sweetened with maple sugar, which the women pronounced delicious, the entertain- ment was without doubt, enjoyed as keenly as the more elaborate entertainments of the present day. At the close, a brief time was spent in the expression of friendly interest and good wishes. The company then separated and soon disappearing in the shadows of the forest, eagerly threaded their way to their scattered homes, carrying with them pleasant memories to cheer them in the days that followed. At the close of the season Chase and Smith left the township not to return. It must have been an occasion HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 79 of keen regret to the scattered families that an acquaint- ance so pleasantly began should have terminated so abruptly. The First School The school was an essential factor in the progress of New England civilization. It sprang from New Eng- land ideas as naturally as weeds from the fire-swept lands of the new settlement. The necessary conditions were few and simple. A half dozen children of school age, liv- ing within a mile of a common center, a person qualified to instruct in the simplest rudiments of English literature whose services were available, books of the most ele- mentary character and, in warm weather, a spare corner in some house or barn — these were all the conditions necessary to the opening of a school. The products of the soil constituted the currency of the inhabitants and teachers were usually satisfied to receive these in pay- ment for their services. After the coming into the township of the Gordon and Chandler families in 1805, the necessary conditions were fulfilled and a school was opened in Joseph Garland's barn, expenses being paid by the parents of the children. Miss Nancv Gordon, afterwards the wife of William Godwin, was the teacher, and she had the honor of teaching the first school in the present town of Garland. This unpretentious school embraced eight bright boys and girls, some of whom, in turn, became teachers of note. 80 HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE A Disappointment The early settlers of the township had regarded the existence of a saw-mill therein with great satisfaction, but subsequent experience forced the conviction upon them that it would be of but little advantage to them. The more sagacious inhabitants desired to have such timber sawed as was necessary to the construction of comparatively small and rude habitations, reserving the larger and more valuable growth of pine, of which there were considerable quantities, for subsequent use or sale. They expected to pay bills for sawing by turning over to the mill owners a share of the lumber sawed, but such expectations failed of realization. John Grant from Berwick, Maine, had purchased the mill in 1803. Early in the spring of that year he appeared in the township with several grown up sons and a six ox team with the necessary equipment for the lumbering business. His plans were not at all in accord with the expectations of the inhabitants of the town- ship. There was a good growth of pine on the mill lot, as well as on other lots in the vicinity of the mill site. In the language of one of the early settlers "there was upon the borders of the stream and meadow below the mill an abundance of pine as handsome as ever grew from Penobscot soil. ' ' With a team of his own equipped for service and a crew from his own family to man it, and with a heavy growth of pine of his own in close proximity to the mill site and large quantities that could be purchased at a price merely nominal, he could stock his mill and supply the inhabitants of neigh- boring towns, and thereby establish a business that would yield him a fortune. The growing settlement of Blais- delltown (Exeter), New Ohio (Corinth), and New HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 81 Charleston (Charleston), extended to the Grants consid- erable patronage, but not enough to make their business successful. One great hindrance to success was the lack of money. The early settlers were scantily supplied with this vital element of business enterprise. Another hindrance was the total absence of the spirit of accom- modation in their dealings with their neighbors. One of these hauled some spruce logs to the mill with the purpose of having them sawed into boards. The logs were of medium size but not entirely innocent of knots. The Grant who had charge of the mill gruffly refused to saw them, giving as the reason that the knots were harder than spikes and that it would take two such logs to make a decent slab. Repelled by such rebuffs the inhabitants of the north- ern and western parts of Lincolntown obtained boards to cover their buildings at Elkinstown (Dexter). Among these were Amos and Moses Gordon, Justus Harriman and John Chandler. The refusal of the Grants to saw spruce and hemlock was followed by the necessity of using pine lumber for the most common purposes. Many of the buildings in this and neighbor- ing townships were covered with the best quality of pine boards, while hemlock lumber, which was equally as good for that purpose, was burned upon the ground where it grew, to make room for the crops because the mill owners refused to saw it. After draining the section of the township immediately around the mill site, the mill property passed into other hands about the year 1810. 82 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The Township in 1806 Accessions to the township in 1806 were not numer- ous, but events occurred that were of importance to the future of the settlement. Jeremiah Flanders, who had visited the township in 1804 and had spent the summer of 1805 therein in the service of Amos Gordon, pur- chased and made a beginning for himself in 1806 or 1807 on lot eleven, range six, the site of the present home of Edwin Preble. Sampson Silver, who had made his first visit to the township in 1804 and had worked for John Chandler the following year, made a beginning on the westerly part of lot ten, range five, the site of the present home of the late Albert G. Gordon. Enoch Clough purchased the westerly part of lot nine, range five, and felled ten acres of trees on it. The place of this beginning is now owned by Ernest Rollins. He subsequently exchanged this place with Thomas S. Tyler for lot ten, range seven. Philip Greeley came into the township about the year 1806 and bought lot ten, range nine, of James Garland, built a log house and made some improvements on it. At the time of his purchase there was an opening on it of ten acres that had been made bv Mr. Garland in 1802. The westerly part of this lot is now the home of George Arnold, and Chai'les Carr resides on the east- erly part. Mr. Greeley emigrated from Salisbury, N. H., through the influence of the Garland family with which he was connected by marriage. He soon sold this lot to William Dustin, a brother-in-law of John Chandler, and made a beginning on lot nine, range eight, and subsequently purchased, and lived upon it until his death. This place was afterwards the home of HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 83 the late Artemas Barton, a well-known citizen of Dex- ter, now owned by his son, R. M. Barton. John Trefethen settled on lot eleven, range two, about 1806. William and George W. Wyman afterwards lived upon this lot for several years. It is now the resi- dence of John S. Harden. Joseph Saunders, an emigrant from New Gloucester, Maine, who had felled an opening on lot four, range nine, in 1802, moved his family into the township in 1806. He had a large family of children, among whom was a daughter who had become the wife of Deacon Robert Seward. The lot where he made his beginning became the site, in turn, of the residence of Nathaniel Emerson and Micah C. Emerson. It is now owned by John E. Hamilton. Joshus Silver made his appearance in the township in 1806. He did not, however, become immediately a resident here, having lived in Elkinstown (Dexter) and Charleston for several years before establishing a resi- dence in Lincolntown. He finally established a resi- dence on lot eleven, range seven, where he lived for several years. Mr. Silver was a man of some eccentrici- ties. By virtue of being the seventh son of a seventh son, he claimed power over disease. The First Tanner During the first half of the present century the tan- ning business was a widely diffused industry. Nearly every town in the vicinity of the present town of Gar- land was favored with the existence of a tannery, where the hides of animals slaughtered for food could be con- 84 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE verted into leather, thus supplying an ever existing necessity. From the middle of the century the small tanneries disappeared. This was due partly to the growing scarcity of the bark supply and partly to the increasing tendency of absorption of small manufactur- ing industries by large establishments and corporations, whose command of money enabled them to appropriate improved modern methods and expensive machinery. A few years subsequent to the War of the Rebellion the small tanneries had nearly all disappeared. Lincolntown's first tanner, who was also a shoemaker, was Andrew Griffin. Mr. Griffin purchased ten acres of land of Joseph Garland, located on the brook between the present residences of David Dearborn and Barton McComb. Here he built a small framed house for his family in 1806 and a shop for his business. A small level plat still shows the locality of his tan-vats, which were just outside his shop. A rude covering protected his bark and apparatus for grinding it, from rain. His machinery for grinding bark was of the most primitive character. It consisted of a circular platform of plank, ten or twelve feet in diameter, through the center of which an upright post was set firmly in the earth. The section of the post above the platform was about three feet in height. A circular piece of granite six feet in diameter and ten or twelve inches in thickness was placed in a vertical position on the outer edge of the platform. A wooden shaft was passed through the center of the granite and firmly fastened, one end of which was attached to the top of the post in the center of the platform by a revolving joint. A horse, harnessed to the opposite end of the shaft, traveled around the plat- form. The bark was broken into small pieces and thrown under the rolling stone and thus reduced to a condition suitable for use. HISTOKY OF GARLAND, MAINE 85 The grinding of a single cord of bark was a good day's work. It was a tedious method, as indeed were all the processes of manufacturing leather in those days, but they met the requirements of the times. The First Physician Attendance upon the sick in the new settlements of eastern Maine at the opening of the present century was a long remove from holiday amusement. In the absence of roads the physician in his visits to the scat- tered families of his own and neighboring townships was obliged to follow uncertain way-marks along angular and circuitous routes through dense forests — to cross unbridged streams — climb over prostrate trees — to make circuit of bogs and swamps and to scale hills and mountains. If darkness obscured his pathway while yet in the forest remote from human habitations, his only alternative was to brace himself for hours of soli- tude and nervous apprehension while listening to the stealthy tread of prowling beasts (oftener imaginary rather than real) and the dismal hooting of long visaged owls. The companionship of a faithful horse or dog, if he was fortunate enough to possess one, would divert the sluggish hours of much of their dreariness, but the humble followers of iEsculapius were then oftener destitute of both than otherwise. In the year 1806 the first physician of the township, in the person of Dr. Joseph Pratt, made his appearance. He was accompanied by a brother. The two brothers found a temporary home in the family of Joseph Garland. The destitution of a physician in the town- 86 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE ship before the coming of Dr. Pratt had been the occa- sion of inconvenience and anxiety. His coming was hailed with joy and he subsequently proved himself worthy of confidence, both as a physician and citizen. His practice extended to other townships. An incident of his early practice will illustrate his fidelity to his profession as well as the hardships which the physician was occasionally called to endure. A Mr. Brockway of Amestown (Sangerville) desired the ser- vices of a physician in his family and Dr. Pratt was summoned. It was midwinter — the weather was cold and the snow deep. As a horse could not be used, a more primitive method of travel was resorted to. The distance to Amestown in a direct course was ten miles, but the route followed required more than twenty miles of travel. Daunted neither by distance, depth of snow nor stress of weather, Dr. Pratt fastened on his snowshoes and started in response to the summons. His line of travel led him to Elkinstown (Dexter) thence to his objective point. He arrived in Amestown in due time and accomplished the purpose of his visit, but when ready to start on his journey homeward, a violent storm of snow, the first of a succession of storms, began and detained him from day to day. When he reached home he found by consulting the calendar that he had been absent twenty-one days. The First Visit of a Minister Religious meetings in the township in the first few years of its history were neither of frequent nor regular occurrence. Many of its residents having been relig- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 87 iously educated, keenly felt their destitution of religious privileges. The Sabbath, which they had been accus- tomed to regard as a day for rest and religious improve- ment, now gave no sign of its presence save by the partial cessation of the ordinary business of the week and the interchange of social visits between the scat- tered families. When, therefore, after a lapse of four years, they were favored with occasional visits of some devoted minister, they hailed his presence with mani- festations of joy and heard him gladly. To them it was prophetic of better days. The glad news of his coming was spread from house to house and the Sabbath found the scattered people with one accord in one place. In their eagerness to hear the words of the living preacher they forgot their denominational preferences, if indeed they cherished any. The first minister to visit the township was the Rev. Samuel Sewall, one of the numerous family of ministers of that name. Mr. Sewall 's first visit to the township was in 1806. He preached his first sermon in the house of Joseph Garland, where the people gathered and lis- tened with great interest. He afterwards made several visits to the township. First Winter School The first summer school in the township, taught by Miss Nancy Gordon, in Joseph Garland's barn, has been noticed. The following winter William Mitchell, then residing in Elkinstown (Dexter), taught school in Joseph Garland's house, which occupied the site of the present residence of David Dearborn. The school embraced 88 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE scholars of all ages from all parts of the township. Several persons who had passed the limit of school age attended it. It was a school of respectable numbers. Mr. Mitchell had been a student in the old academy at Gilmantown, N. H. He was a man of more than ordi- nary intelligence for the times. He was original in methods, abrupt in manners and stern in discipline. Many of his scholars carried very distinct recollections of his words and ways through life. Our late venerable citizen, James J. Chandler, was one of his scholars. As Mr. Mitchell was, in later years, a resident of Garland and was laid to rest in one of its cemeteries, some of his early experiences illustrative of pioneer life in eastern Maine at the beginning of the present century may appropriately be noticed. He early emigrated from Sanbornton, N. H., to Athens, Maine. In the autumn of 1802, he selected a piece of land in Elkinstown (Dexter) and built a small cabin of logs thereon. The site of the little cabin was a short distance east of the present residence of A. L. Barton and near the westerly limit of Lincolntown. The brook, upon the margin of which the cabin stood, is still known as the Mitchell brook. Early in March, 1803, he employed a neighbor with a two-horse team to move his family and such household goods as would be needed for immediate use to his cabin in Elkinstown, a distance of about eighteen miles. Up to the morning of their departure from Athens the weather had been cold and the deep snow had been hard enough to bear up a two-horse team. Unfortunately, the weather had become much warmer and the horses slumped badly. Articles of furniture were thrown off by the wayside from time to time to lighten the load. They pressed resolutely onward until they reached the site of the present town of Ripley where night overtook them. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 89 Too much fatigued to continue the unequal struggle they determined to cease further efforts until strength and courage should be renewed by a night's rest. There was no attractive hotel to offer them entertainment nor even a settler's cabin to invite them to its friendly shelter. A little shelter of poles and evergreen boughs was hastily built. A bed of boughs covered with blankets they had with them afforded a comfortable rest- ing place for the night. The following morning opened brightly but bore with it unmistakable indications of continued warm weather. A frugal breakfast was hastily prepared and eaten. The family was making prepara- tions to continue its journey, when, to their utter dis- may, the teamster informed them that it was useless to attempt farther progress with team, and that he should turn it towards home. Neither entreaty nor expostu- lation availed to change his determination. Throwing off what remained of his load he abruptly left them in a limitless sea of snow. The family embraced the father, mother, an infant son in his mother's arms and five daughters ranging from four to fourteen years of age. This was not promising material for a forward move- ment, but Mr. Mitchell was a man of resolute courage, and in this respect Mrs. Mitchell was not a whit inferior to her husband. A forward movement was promptly begun. The three older girls were strong and resolute, needing but little assistance save occasionally to rescue a shoe imbedded in the deep, damp snow, from which the foot had been drawn in the attempt to regain the sur- face. Mrs. Mitchell was fully equal to the task of bearing forward her infant son. The transportation of the two younger girls remained to be provided for. Mr. Mitchell must carry them, but could not carry them both through the deep snow at once. He was a man of expedients as well as courage and quickly solved the difficulty. The 90 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE family was now ready for a forward movement which was executed as follows: Leaving Mrs. Mitchell, the baby and the youngest daughter upon the bed of boughs, which had been their resting place during the night, he took the next younger girl in his arms and accompanied bjT the older girls, he moved forward a half mile, where he left them as the first installment of the party. Returning to the starting point, he conducted Mrs. Mitchell with the baby in her arms to the place where the first installment had been left, carrying the youngest girl in his arms. The regularity and success of the first advance inspired something akin to military enthusiasm. Subsequent movements of the same character brought them to the residence of John Tucker in Elkinstown, which was on the hill a little west of the present village of Dexter. In getting his family forward five miles Mr. Mitchell had travelled fifteen miles in marching and counter-marching. It was near night when the tired family reached the residence of Mr. Tucker, where they remained three days and were treated with the hospitality characteristic of the times. During this time the weather became colder, and a hard crust forming on the surface of the snow, Mr. Mitchell collected the goods which had been thrown from the load on the first day and hauled them to Ripley on a hand-sled. On the fourth day they moved into their own log-cabin by the brook which had been built the preceding autumn. Our former much esteemed resident, the late Mrs. N. P. Smith, was one of the girls that participated in the hardships of that remarkable journey from Athens to Elkinstown in 1803. The robust personality of the late Mordecai Mitchell, an esteemed and prominent citizen of Dover, was evolved from the babe that Mrs. Mitchell carried in her arms from Ripley to Dexter. Mrs. Smith kindly communicated to HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 91 the writer various particulars relating to their pioneer life in the wilds of Elkinstown.. Her father's family was the fifth to take up a residence in that township. They lived in a log-cabin within which was the traditional stone fire-place. This was made to do service both in warming and cooking. Their nearest neighbors were the families of Seba French of Elkinstown, who moved into the township a little later than her father, and Joseph Garland of Lincolntown. These families were bound together by the closest ties of friendship — a friendship based upon common experiences of hardship, loneliness and similarity of disposition and religious faith. The Mitchell and Garland families lived four miles apart, but this was no obstacle to a frequent interchange of visits by Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Garland. A horse- back ride, guided by spotted lines, brought them often together, and in the absence of a horse the distance was made on foot. Mrs. Smith furnished an interesting account of their mode of living while at Elkinstown and of the privations and hardships they endured. Mr. Mitchell spent his winters in teaching, during which Mrs. Mitchell was left in the lonely cabin with the care of her large family of young children. On these occa- sions she exhibited a degree of courage and fortitude seldom surpassed. If her husband could be useful by giving instruction to the children of the scattered settle- ments and at the same time, earn something for the sup- port of the family in its straitened circumstances, she was not the woman to interpose objections. Teachers were then paid for their services in corn, wheat and rye at prices fixed by custom. The food supply of the family was of the most simple character. They, in common with their neighbors, kept a cow, a pig and a few fowls. For a year or two they procured their bread 92 HISTORY OF GAELAND, MAINE supply from Cornville. When they began to raise crops they got their milling done at Cornville, eighteen miles away. Their cooking was done by an open fire. Among their luxuries were roasted potatoes in milk, hominy (a coarse meal from new corn) with a maple syrup accom- paniment— samp (corn in the milk cut from the cob and eaten in milk). Their everyday bill of fare was— for breakfast — corn and rye bread, or milk porridge and hasty pudding. Their suppers were much like their breakfasts. Their dinners were of pork and potatoes, the latter being the largest factor of the meal. Wheat bread was seldom seen. At barn raisings a few years later, pork and potatoes, pork and beans, brown bread, Indian puddings and pumpkin pies were the appropriate articles of food. Their beverages were water, milk, crust coffee and a drink made of a root found in the forest. They very seldom had the satisfaction of inhaling the odor of the real tea which women so highly prize. The substitutes for tea were sage, balm and raspberry leaves. It was customary for the women to assist in the lighter farm work. They cultivated the flax plant, which entered largely into the clothing of both men and women. They sowed the seed, and cared for the plant until it came to maturity. Mrs. Mitchell was accus- tomed to spin and weave its long, strong fibers into shirting and send it to Bangor for sale. She also pur- chased cotton in Bangor, spun and wove it into cloth and returned it to the same place where it was sold at 50 cents per yard. The travel to Bangor was on horseback. The amusement of the children was simple and health- ful. They basked in the sunlight that straggled through the tree tops. They watched with never tiring interest the nimble movements of the squirrel, now running with surprising celerity through the tree tops — now disap- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 93 pearing in the foliage and directly chattering defiance from some distant point. They listened to the "joyous music" of the little brook as it ran past their humble cabin over the stones and shallows. The little brook trout were a great attraction to them as they darted from one hiding place to another, and if perchance they caught one with a pin hook it was a brilliant achieve- ment, for hath not the poet said, "Oh what are the honors men perish to win To the first little shiner I caught with a pin?" In autumn, like their squirrel neighbors, they gath- ered beechnuts to store for the winter. They "lived close to Nature's heart" and their days and weeks were replete with health and contentment. Mrs. Mitchell was a women of strong religious pro- clivities. Upon the advent of the family of Seba French she found a kindred nature in the person of Mrs. French. After a brief acquaintance, the two women selected a spot midway between the two houses where they met at stated times for conference and prayer. This was, perhaps, the first prayer-meeting instituted in the present town of Dexter. In the year 1809 Mr. Mitchell removed his family to township number three in the sixth range of town- ships north of the Waldo Patent, now Dover. He set- tled upon the lot which afterwards became the home- stead of his son, Mordecai Mitchell. He had felled and burned over ten acres of trees the previous summer. His first work after reaching the new township was the building of a cabin for the shelter of his family. This accomplished he commenced clearing the burned piece for the crops of the season. During his first day's work he inflicted a wound upon one of his feet with his axe which incapacitated him for further labor through the 94 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE spring. But his wife and daughters with characteristic resolution, aided by a hired man, prosecuted the work that had been so suddenly arrested and raised sixty bushels of wheat and other crops that entered into the food supply of the family. When the Mitchell family had become established at Dover Mrs. Mitchell, at the solicitation of a prominent citizen of the vicinity, held religious services on the Sab- bath. Mr. Mitchell, not being professionally a religious man, his wife conducted the devotional exercises and he led the singing and read a sermon or religious literature. These were the first religious meetings held in what are now the villages of Dover and Foxcroft. Mrs. N. P. Smith, the daughter of Mr. Mitchell, to whom allusion has been made, married a Mr. Bradbury, a business man of Piscataquis County, who died early, leaving his wife with the care of one daughter and two sons. A few years later Mrs. Bradbury married Deacon Stephen Smith of Garland, where she immediately took up her residence. The children of this marriage were four daughters — Matilda, Caroline, Henrietta and Hannah, who died in early childhood. Mrs. Smith's earlier years in Garland were not entirely devoid of pri- vation. Lewis Bradbury, the younger son of her first husband, went to the Pacific coast about the year 1850, where in course of time he became wealthy, and to his credit it may be said, he remembered his mother and supplied her abundantly with money. From this time onward she had no occasion for anxiety about the future support of herself and family. Her daughter Caroline went to California in 1859 with a lady friend to seek employment as a teacher. A few years later she married and became the mistress of a home of her own. Deacon Smith died in Garland, HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 95 July 15, 1866. In 1873, Mrs. Smith, with her daugh- ters, Matilda and Henrietta, moved to California where they enjoyed the comforts of a modern home provided by her son, Lewis Bradbury. Here, in the neighborhood of her older children, and blessed by the constant pres- ence and tender care of her younger daughters, her later years were years of ease and comfort. She had also the satisfaction of knowing that her daughters were passing lives of much usefulness. While living in Garland, Mrs. Smith was an active member of the Congregational church. On a beautiful Sabbath morning, near the close of her residence in Garland, the churchgoers were sur- prised and delighted at the presence upon the table in front of the pulpit of an attractive silver communion service, her parting gift to the people she loved so well. She also left a sum of money in the hands of her revered pastor, Rev. P. B. Thayer, to be distributed to the poorer members of the church in case of sickness or want. Mrs. Smith's father, William Mitchell, Garland's first schoolmaster, died in Garland, May 23, 1842, at the age of 72 years. Her mother died in Garland December 19, 1853, at the age of 84. Early Marriages The first marriage celebrated in the township is believed to have been that of John Knight to Agnes Grant in 1803. In 1804, Isaac Wheeler, Esq., was united in marriage with Betsey Murray of Rutland, Mass., a daughter of Alexander Murray. In 1805, Josiah Bartlett, afterwards known as Elder Bartlett, 96 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE was married to Sarah Kimball, daughter of Andrew Kimball of Belgrade, Maine. In 1806, William Godwin married Nancy Gordon of Lincoln town. The marriage of John Hayes to Martha Fifield, both of Garland, occurred in 1806. Isaac Wheeler, Esq., commenced housekeeping soon after his marriage in a log-cabin that occupied the site next to the Free Baptist church. He soon afterwards built a house on the site now occupied by the heirs of the late William B. Foss. It was in 1807 that Isaac Wheeler, Esq., and his wife made their first visit to their old homes in Rutland, Mass. They took their two children with them on horse- back to Bangor and thence to Boston by water. One of these children afterwards became the wife of Charles P. Chandler of Foxcroft, Maine ; a lawyer of much promi- nence in Piscataquis County. On their return to Lincolntown, they were accompa- nied by Elisabeth Murray, a sister of Mrs. Wheeler, who soon after became the wife of John S. Haskell. From this marriage sprang a large family of children who, in after years, became prominent citizens of Gar- land. The marriage of William Sargent to Lucretia Kimball occurred in 1807. Mr. Sargent lived on the place now occupied by James Rideout. The Township in 1807 But few events of importance to the township occurred in 1807. Men who had made beginnings at an earlier date were enlarging the area of their cleared lands, erect- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 97 ing buildings and making improvements. John S. Haskell, one of the most prominent of the early set- tlers, built a small house and barn this year, and was married and commenced housekeeping. Jeremiah Flanders from Hopkinton, N. H., whose visits to the township in 1804 and 1805 have been noted, purchased lot eleven, range six, this year and made a beginning on it. He built a log camp close by the brook near where William Jones now lives and occu- pied it while preparing for a future home. William Dustin moved into the township this year, and lived in the log house upon the lot he had purchased a year earlier of Philip Greeley. The First Blacksmith Several of the most useful trades had representatives in the township as early as 1805, but it was still desti- tute of a blacksmith. The year 1807 contributed a representative of this useful trade to the township in the person of Andrew Kimball of Belgrade, Maine. Mr. Kimball had at this time three daughters here — Mrs. James McCluer, Mrs. Josiah Bartlett and Mrs. William Sargent. These were the attractions that lured him thither. The settlers of a township can get along with- out gold and silver but not without iron. The latter is, in some form, a necessary factor of civilization, and the worker of iron is esteemed as one of the most useful of citizens. The coming of Mr. Kimball was, therefore, hailed with great satisfaction, but his usefulness was greatly abridged by the want of tools and stock. The scant supply of necessary materials, and the rude 98 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE character of the tools and fixtures used by the black- smiths, at the opening of the present century, were not un frequently the occasion for merriment. A man of this trade came into a neighboring township to set up in business. He made a crib of the requisite size of logs and filled it with sand for a forge, put his bellows in position, adjusted his anvil to the top of a stump, and with no suggestion of a covering save the moving tree- tops, announced himself ready for business. Shortly after, a stranger who was riding through the township on horseback, lost a shoe from his horse. Meeting a resident, he inquired for a blacksmith shop. The instant reply was — "Why bless you, Sir, you are in a blacksmith shop now, but it's three miles to the anvil." Then, with the utmost gravity, he directed the stranger to the distant anvil. Mr. Kimball's shop was of smaller dimensions. It was a rude structure of slabs, located on the brow of the village saw-mill. Here he shod horses and oxen, mended plows and chains and did numerous jobs of making and repairing that came within the range of his facilities for doing. A little later, he built a larger and more convenient shop on the little island just below the site of the grist- mill owned by Edward Washburn. Like others of his trade, Mr. Kimball was often obliged to resort to make- shifts to meet the wants of his patrons. Some of these would hardly accord with ideas of the professional farrier of the present time. On one occasion he had business in Bangor, and must go on foot or horseback. By dint of effort he procured a shoeless horse, but a horse with- out shoes might prove a dangerous horse to ride. Although Mr. Kimball had forged many a horseshoe, successful work of this kind required iron, and of that he had none. In a pile of rubbish in a corner he found HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 99 a set of ox- shoes that had been thrown aside as worth- less. Shaping these to meet the exigency, he nailed two to each foot of the horse. Thus equipped, he made his trip to Bangor, accomplished his business and reached home in due time without accident. Previous to the coming of Mr. Kimball, the inhabi- tants of Lincolntown were obliged to go to Simon Prescott's shop in New Ohio (Corinth) to get their iron work done. This involved inconvenience, loss of time and increased expense. Mr. Prescott's price for shoeing a horse was two dollars. The Township in 1808 In the year 1808, only one family so far as is now known, established a residence in the township. This was the family of Abner Bond, who made a beginning on lot seven, range eight. Our well-remembered citizen, Aaron Hill of Bangor, followed Mr. Bond on the same lot where he built and lived for many years. The farm is now owned by Davis and Walker brothers. The date of the transfer of this place from Mr. Bond to Mr. Hill was 1823. The latter married and began housekeeping in 1826. The year 1808 marks the date of the birth of several children who afterwards became prominent citizens of the town of Garland. Among these were the late Daniel M. Haskell and Horace Gordon. Joseph Treadwell, who had built the first framed house in the township for John Tyler, and had occupied it with Mr. Tyler for several years, built a house for himself on lot four, range seven, in 1808, where he lived for many years. His twelve-years-old son, the late 100 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE John Treadwell, carried the heavy brown ash braces that were used in the frame, from the spot where they were hewn, to the site of the house, upon his shoulder. John Treadwell succeeded to the ownership of this farm. It is now owned and occupied by Joseph Treadwell, the grandson of the original resident. The house is one of the oldest now standing. This is one of the few instances where the original homestead remains in the line of family descent. The Township in 1809 The population of the township was increased in 1809 by the incoming of several families who settled in differ- ent parts of it. Asa Burnham from Nottingham, N. H., settled on lot one, range eight. It is not probable that he remained long in the township as his name does not appear on the first voting list prepared three years later. He became well known in this section as a devoted and esteemed minister of the Freewill Baptist denomination, preaching at various places, including Exeter and Sebec. A little later, Robert Seward, afterwards known as Deacon Robert Seward, purchased this lot and lived on it until the year 1860, when he sold it and moved to Bangor. While living upon this lot he erected build- ings, added to, enlarged and improved them from time to time as convenience required, and his means allowed. He was also diligent in the improvement of his farm, which became at length one of the most productive in the town. His choice of location has sometimes been criticised somewhat sharply because it was a half mile HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 101 away from any established road. Two strangers appeared in town at a recent date, who were in pursuit of farms. They were directed to the Seward farm. A little later they were seen and asked how they liked the Seward farm. They replied that they "liked the farm well but they did not care to live in a British Province. " But when Deacon Seward made his selection, there seemed a strong probability that a county road from Bangor into the Piscataquis region would pass across his farm, and the location of his buildings was determined by the expectation that this probability would become fact. The Seward farm was purchased by Clark Richardson in 1860, where he lived until his death in 1910. Jeremiah Flanders from Hopkinton, N. H., having purchased lot eleven, range six, in 1807, and having subsequently cleared land and built a house upon it, married a wife in 1809 and commenced housekeeping. He occupied this house until about the year 1822, when he built a two story house which was among the first two story buildings of the town. Mr. Flanders improved his farm from year to year until it became a productive one. It is now occupied by Edwin Preble. Mrs. Flanders was accustomed to repair to a log camp, which her husband had built two years earlier, to do her weekly washing. The camp occupied a site at the foot of the slope close by the brook east of the house where Edwin Preble now lives. On one occasion a down- pour of rain through the capacious chimney of sticks and mortar put out the fire. A neighbor's boy, who was making a friendly call, was sent a half mile to get fire to rekindle with. That was before the invention of friction matches. It was no uncommon thing to send to a neighbor's house for coals of fire to kindle anew. 102 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Samuel Mansfield purchased a part of lot eight, in range eight, in 1809, and became a resident of the town- ship the same year, where he lived until his death, which occurred July 3d, 1856. Hollis Mansfield, a son of Samuel Mansfield, lived with his father several years, but his death occurred before that of his father. He died in 1847. The old homestead remains in the line of the family descent, being owned by Henry Mansfield, a grandson of Samuel, who still occupies it. Andrew Griffin, the first tanner and shoemaker of the township, became dissatisfied with his prospects and sold his property rights and business to Simeon Morgan of Elkinstown in 1809, and moved to Levant. Mr. Morgan soon moved into the house vacated by Mr. Griffin. Mr. Griffin was the first resident to leave the township after having established a home in it. A Notable Barn In the year 1809, John Chandler built a barn on the site of his original buildings, eighty feet long and forty- four feet wide. This was only eight years after the ring of the settler's axe had first been heard in the township, and seven years from the harvesting of the first crop. Up to this time the inhabitants had as a rule provided themselves with some cheap substitute for a barn. This barn, towering from an elevated site in the Chandler opening, like the school boy's exclamation point, excited wonder and surprise in the minds of many. Others were filled with admiration of the courage that carried its conception to a successful result, and of the MAINE 103 faith that led to the expectation that the barn would ever be filled with crops. In the construction of the barn, Seba French, after- wards known as Judge French of Dexter, was the master carpenter. The nails used in its construction were wrought by the hand of a common blacksmith. Some of them have been preserved as curious relics of the morning of the present century. A More Notable Barn John Chandler and Edward Fifield emigrated to the township in 1805 — the former from Hopkinton, N. H., and the latter from Ware. They had known each other in New Hampshire. There appears to have been a spirit of rivalry between the two men. It was generally known in the township that each intended to build a barn of unusual size. Both were uncommunicative about dimensions. When Mr. Fifield was questioned about the size of his pro- spective barn, his uniform reply was — "I shall wait until Chandler builds and then build a larger barn than his. ' ' In 1809, Mr. Chandler took the initiative and built so large that he believed no sane man would attempt to outdo him, but he misjudged. Mr. Fifield was firm in his determination to surpass his neighbors in the number and size of his buildings as well as in the extent of his fields and crops. He was still uncommunicative about the size of his intended barn, but assured inquirers that it would be larger than Chandler's, and that the frame would contain three hundred and sixty-five braces to cor- respond to the number of days in the year. 104 Soon after, Mr. Fifield gratified the curiosity of his neighbors with the sight of a veritable barn one hundred and twenty feet long by forty-four feet wide. Like the Chandler barn it occupied an elevated site, and when, years later, the surrounding forests were cleared away, it was seen for long distances. It was claimed to be the largest barn in the State at the date of its construction. Seba French of Dexter was the master builder. The raising of the building was an occasion long remembered. The country for miles around was scoured for assistance. The flow of the favorite New England beverage was commensurate with the greatness of the building. There are vague traditionary rumors that the men did not all get home with whole suits. As an inci- dent of the occasion no use was found for the 365th brace, a discovery that was followed by a boisterous laugh from the jubilant crowd and a demand for an extra treat. A Remarkable Journey in 1809 Isaac Wheeler, Esq., and his brother-in-law, John S. Haskell, planned a visit, with their wives, to relatives in Rutland, Mass., in the autumn of 1809. Their com- pany included one little boy of tender age for each couple. There were at that time neither roads nor car- riages in the township or vicinity. The only practicable alternative was to make the journey partly on horse- back. The pioneers of eastern Maine did not allow trifling obstacles to deter them from the execution of cherished plans. Each couple took its one small boy on- to the horse with them, making a company of six to be HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 105 carried on two horses. Thus mounted, they jogged leisurely along to Winthrop, a few miles beyond Augusta. Here they hired a two-seated carriage to which they hitched the two horses, and performed the remainder of their journey in luxuriant ease. The return journey was accomplished in the same manner. The two boys grew to the stature of men. One of them, Reuben Wheeler, died in early manhood, esteemed by all who were favored with his acquaintance. The other, Daniel Murray Haskell, lived to a good old age, a citizen whose personal qualities were worthy of imitation by the generations that followed him. The First Death in the Township On the 20th day of November, 1809, the death of Mrs. Polly Fifield, wife of Edward Fifield, occurred. This being the first death among the little band of set- tlers, it was the occasion of peculiar sadness throughout the township. Mrs. Fifield had the faithful services of Dr. Peabody of Corinth. The funeral services were con- ducted by a clergyman from Corinth. The Township in 1810 Sampson Silver came into the township first in 1804 in the employment of Amos Gordon. In 1805, he came again and worked for John Chandler. During this year, he purchased of Amos Gordon a part of lot ten, range five, felled two acres of trees and erected buildings. In 106 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 1810 he married and commenced housekeeping. Mr. Silver's old homestead was later the home of Albert G. and Parker Gordon. Isaac Copeland, who had purchased the westerly part of lot eleven, range five, of John S. Haskell, and had felled an opening on it in 1809, built a house in 1810 and moved his family into it in the autumn of the latter year. He had previously lived in Elkinstown. His place was afterwards owned and occupied for many years by the late Stephen D. Jennings, and passed from him into the hands of his son, Mark C. Jennings. Cutteon Flanders, a brother of Jeremiah Flanders, emigrated from Hopkinton, N. H., in 1810 and settled on the lot afterwards owned by Asa H. Sawtelle, and now owned by John Hayden. Ezekiel Straw emigrated to the township from New Hampshire in 1810, and purchased lot seven, range seven. Two years later, having made a clearing and built a house, he married and commenced housekeeping. Mr. Straw's old homestead is now owned and occupied by Lionel Lincoln. The Rev. John Sawyer made a beginning on lot six, range ten, in 1810, and resided there for several years. The old Sawyer homestead was subsequently owned and occupied in turn by Edward Fifield and I. A. Palmer. It is now owned and occupied by D. F. Patten. Mr. Sawyer's first visit to the township was in 1809, when he bore with him a commission from the Maine Missionary Society for a few weeks' service. This society had been organized only a single year at that time. Mr. Sawyer was among its earliest missiona- ries. His labors here created a deep religious interest and resulted in the organization of a Congregational church, the third organized within the present limits of Penobscot County — the church at Dixmont being the HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 107 first, that of Brewer the second and Garland the third. The early history of the Garland Congregational church, and a biographical sketch of Mr. Sawyer, will appear in another connection. A Sorrowful Event In the year 1810, a deeply sorrowful event occurred in the township. Joseph Saunders and his brother Oliver were felling some trees for timber on the center road running east, about a half mile east of the center of the township. A tall spruce tree which they were chopping was arrested by a smaller tree as it began to move slowly towards the ground. Joseph stepped forward to weaken the smaller tree by a few blows of the axe, so that it might yield to the pressure of the larger tree and let it fall to the ground, but the larger tree unexpectedly became detached from the smaller and fell rapidly. Oliver, seeing his brother's peril, warned him of his danger, but it was too late. The tree in its downward movement crushed one of his legs. Becoming very faint, he begged for water. His brother replied, "There is nothing to bring it in;" when he instantly exclaimed, "Bring it in your shoe!" As soon as assist- ance could be procured he was removed to his home. His neighbors believed that his life could be saved by the amputation of his limb, but his family had a superstitious dread of the dismemberment of the human body by the knife and saw, and he soon passed away. He was a young man, and his death having been the first that had occurred by accident, was a severe shock to the inhabitants of the township. At the time of his 108 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE death, he had recently made a profession of religion under the ministrations of the Rev. John Sawyer. Mr. Saunders was a brother of Mrs. Robert Seward, and an uncle of Mrs. Charles E. Merriam. The First Grist-Mill. A saw-mill had been built in the township in 1802, the year from which its settlement dates. The prompt action of the proprietors in providing a saw-mill encour- aged emigration to the township. A few years later a set of stones had been placed in the basement of the saw-mill for grinding corn and rye, but the patrons of this very imperfect machinery complained of an undue percentage of sawdust in the meal thus obtained, and the inhabitants of the township were anxious for a mill that would give them the material for purer food. The Grant family, who had owned and run the saw- mill from the beginning, had become involved in debt, and were in no condition to confer upon the township the boon of a grist-mill. In 1810, the ownership of the mill property was transferred to Mr. Sanger, one of the proprietors of the township, to satisfy a claim he had on it. Mr. Sanger soon sold it to Isaac Wheeler, Esq., who in turn sold it to Mr. Church of Clinton, Maine. Mr. Church was an enterprising man and a skilled mechanic. The following year he built a small but con- venient house on the mill brow, west of the site of the present village saw-mill, and moved his family into it. A depression on the surface of the ground still reveals the site of the house. Having provided a shelter for his family, he built a MAINE 109 grist-mill upon the site of the present grist-mill. From a block of granite found near the mill he fitted a run of stones with his own hands, and performed nearly all the labor involved in the construction of the mill. It was accounted a good mill for the times, and was patronized by the inhabitants of this and neighboring townships. The house built by Mr. Church was occupied by his own family as long as he remained in town. It was afterwards occupied by Reuben Bartlett, who emigrated to Garland from Nottingham, N. H., about the year 1819, and purchased the mill property. About the year 1826, he built the more commodious house now owned by Fred Osgood, and sold the house built by Mr. Church to Samuel Johnson, who moved it to the site now occu- pied by the Eugene French house. In 1829, Benjamin H. Oak of Exeter purchased this house, and the forty acres of land connected with it and moved into it in the spring of 1830, where he lived until his death in 1842. About the year 1844, it passed into the hands of Rev. Leonard Hathaway, who took it down to give place to a larger and better house, where he passed the remaining years of his earthly life. Death of the First Physician In March, 1810, Dr. Joseph Pratt, the first physician of the township, died at the house of Joseph Garland, where he had boarded. Dr. Pratt's faithful performance of his professional duties, and his ever ready sympathy with the sick and suffering, gave him a warm place in the hearts of the people. The intelligence of his death spread rapidly through the township, carrying grief to every household. 110 Doctors Peabody of Corinth and Skinner of Brewer were his attending physicians. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. John Sawyer at the house of Joseph Garland. His disease was typhoid fever. He was buried near the present residence of David W. Dearborn. After the Greeley Cemetery was established, he was disinterred and buried there. Neither stone nor other monument marks his present resting place. His immediate successor was Dr. James Parker, who commenced practice here in the summer of 1810, and was the second physician of the township. Questionings Why did our fathers emigrate to this barren region where frost and snow hold uninterrupted sway for one half the year, and the reluctant soil yields its inhabitants scanty support as the reward of resolute and unremitting toil? Why did they not seek a more productive soil under summer skies? These questions are often asked by the dwellers of eastern Maine. The early settlers of Lincoln township were mainly from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and the western section of the Province of Maine. These sections had been settled many years and the best lands had been appropriated. As a rule the families were large in those days, and the old homes had become like overstocked hives. The grown-up children must seek new homes as their fathers and mothers had done in years gone by. The industrial occupations outside of agriculture were limited in range. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 111 The manufacturing industries that now allure young men and women in large numbers from agricultural pur- suits, had no existence then. The Lewistons, Law- rences, Lowells and Manchesters, and the hundreds of villages where factories line the borders of their streams and rivers, and the hum of whose machinery is as incessant as the roar of their waterfalls, are creations of a later date. Commercial employments, house carpen- try, ship building and other mechanical industries, all on a limited scale, with the additions of navigation and fishing, gave employment to a limited number of people, but the great mass of New England laborers were obliged to draw their subsistence from the heart of Mother Earth. It was therefore natural for young men to choose the employment that had given their fathers the means of support, and not unfrequently, had made them independent. To this class of men, lands that were cheap, productive and accessible were the desidera- tum. All these conditions could be found in the easterly section of the Province of Maine. Land could be purchased at low prices, and of its productiveness, there was abundant evidence. The appearance of the surface soil indicated fertility. One enthusiastic prospector from New Hampshire filled his tobacco box with dark rich looking loam which, on his return home, he exhibited to his friends, declaring that it would make good pudding. What disposition he made of his tobacco in the meantime tradition does not inform us. The character of the forest growth indicated strength of soil. More conclusive evidence was found in the large crops of wheat, rye and corn that had been raised in near at hand townships which had been settled at an earlier date. Inducements of another character were presented to allure settlers. The best statesmanship of Massachu- 112 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE setts had been employed to promote the settlement of the eastern lands of that state by the adoption of a liberal policy. Reservations of land had been made in each township by the general court of Massachusetts to aid in the support of the institutions, so dear to New England people — the school and the church; a policy which attracted a good class of emigrants. Other influ- ences attracted other classes of emigrants. Then, as now, there were men who, being repelled by the conventionalities and restraints of society, were car- ried on the current of emigration to the outer limits of civilization. There were also men who sought border life to gratify their propensity for hunting and fishing. Was it a Misfortune? Such has been the remarkable growth of the western states in population and wealth within the last seventy- five years, that many a worthy citizen of Maine has regarded it as a misfortune that our fathers did not emi- grate to the West instead of Maine. At the date of the earliest settlements of this section of Maine, very little was known of the ' 'great west. ' ' Ohio, the near- est western state, was then an almost unbroken wilderness, at a great distance away. The difficulties and hardships involved in emigrating to Ohio were an effectual bar to emigration to that state, where, in after years, so many residents of Maine emigrated to their sorrow. Sensible people of the next generation had but little reason to regret that they had been born in Maine. If the question of choice had related to the relative capacity of contributing to the food supply of the world, Maine HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 113 could not have been a factor in the case. If, on the other hand, the question had related to the type of men and women who could boast of Maine nativity, its citi- zens would not shun the comparison. The best types of men and women are not found in the most productive sections. "In marches of a mighty age, Our place is on the van." — Mrs. Mace. The pure breezes from hill top, mountain and sea con- tribute to the physical, mental and moral fibre of her citizens. The late Honorable James G. Blaine, who for breadth of statesmanship and grasp of detail, has had no equal in the United States, was an adopted son of Maine, where he lived through the whole of his political life. The Honorable Thomas B. Reed, formerly Speaker of the National House of Representatives, a position of importance next to that of the President of the United States, was a native and citizen of Maine. William P. Frye, President pro tern of the Senate of the United States, who, with his colleague, Honorable Eugene Hale, hold the chairmanships of some of the most important committees of that august body, are natives of Maine. Honorable Nelson Dingley, the able leader of the National House of Representatives, was a native of Maine. The late Honorable Charles A. Boutelle, the able and fearless member of the National House of Representatives from the fourth representative district of Maine, held the chairmanship of the Naval Committee. The late Honorable Melville W. Fuller, also a native of Maine, received the appointment as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The Honorable Bartlett Tripp, minister to Austria under President Cleveland, was born in Maine. The late Honorable Alfred E. Buck, at one time minister to Japan, was a Maine man. 114 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The distinction of serving as governor of Massachusetts, has been accorded to several Maine men. Daniel Webster has been credited with saying that, "New Hampshire is a good state to emigrate from.'1 It may truthfully be said that Maine is a good State to be born and reared in. Maine is comparatively free from many of the physi- cal evils that afflict the West — evils that result from adverse atmospheric conditions. Among these are floods, which sometimes submerge large areas of territory, phenomenal storms of wind, hurricanes and blizzards, also cyclones that sweep through tiers of states, destroy- ing crops, houses and sometimes whole villages and attended by great loss of life. The population of the West is largely more heterogeneous than that of Maine. Petition for an Act of Incorporation The most important event of 1810 was the petition for an Act of Incorporation. The township had been settled nearly eight years and had steadily grown in numbers, and there were now (1810) forty or more fami- lies within its limits. It had been favored with an encouraging degree of prosperity, and the prospects indi- cated continued growth. But its most urgent needs could not be provided for until its inhabitants, in an organized capacity, were invested with the power of levy- ing taxes upon the property of the township. Among their immediate wants of a public character, were roads and schools. A meeting of the inhabitants of the township was called early in 1810 to consider the question of the propriety of petitioning the General Court of MAINE 115 Massachusetts for an Act of Incorporation. At the appointed time, the legal voters assembled at the house of Joseph Garland, and organized by choosing a chair- man and clerk. It was decided to petition for an Act of Incorporation. This important point having been decided in the affirmative, the question — What shall be the name of the prospective town? now confronted the citizens. Stand- ing upon the stone step, which had been fashioned by Nature's hand, and placed in front of Joseph Garland's house, Deacon John S. Haskell moved that the word "Garland" should be inserted in the petition as indicat- ing the choice of the inhabitants of the township in regard to name. The motion was heard with great satisfaction and carried without opposition. What's in a Name? The citizens of Garland ought to hold their fathers in grateful remembrance for giving to the town so sensible, so convenient and appropriate a name as that by which it is known. A name may be desirable for what it lacks as well as what it contains. Many towns are burdened with names through whose accentual windings, changing inflections, harsh sounding and unpronounceable syllables drag their slow length. What bottles of ink, boxes of pens, reams of paper, stores of vocal power, and crimes against the rules of orthography and pronunciation are saved in a single decade by the use of the simple name given to this township when it took on a corporate exist- ence. It is a model of convenience and simplicity. It is easily spoken and easily written. Its distinct utter- 116 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE ance indicates its orthography and pronunciation. It is scarcely susceptible of being misspelled or mispronounced. It is not so inconveniently long nor short as to sug- gest scantiness of material, nor does it deceive the trav- eller, who is dreamily passing through it, with the idea that he is travelling in Greece, France or Italy. It has a poetic and musical ring that is suggestive of pleasant things. It is also of importance because it is invested with historical significance. It perpetuates the memory of the heroic family, that of Joseph Garland, which left a snug little home in New Hampshire to encounter the hardships, privations and perils of pioneer life through a long cold winter, while yet there was not another family within the township. The following incident will show that there was some- thing of advantage in the name by which this town is known, on at least one occasion. In the year 1823, there was living in England a family of laborers, includ- ing the father, mother and two sons. They were hard- working and respectable people but could see no prospect of rising above the conditions which had been the lot of their parents and of themselves thus far. They had heard of America, of the people who lived in their own comfortable homes, of its cheap lands and its opportunities. A home of their own filled their thoughts by day and dreams by night until they reached the decision to emigrate to America. They had been compelled to practice a rigid economy in their previous lives, but to secure the funds to pay their passage to the country they sought, they must turn the screws still harder. By reducing their daily expenses to the lowest possible figure, they saved money enough to emigrate to Belfast, Maine. One of the sons aptly, if not elegantly, characterized the money thus saved as "pinch-gut- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 117 money," because it was an abridgment of their daily food. At Belfast, the father supported his family by work as a day laborer two years, but the purpose of their coming to America was to make a home of their own. Destitute of money, they sought land where it could be purchased cheap on credit. The attention of the father had been called to the township afterwards known as Bowerbank in Piscataquis County. Accompanied by his eldest son, he started on a trip for that township. Reaching the town of Sebec, and finding that the road running north terminated at that place, he decided not to travel any farther in that direction. Having heard the town of Dexter favorably mentioned, he turned his steps towards that place. He had but just passed within the limits of Dexter when the name Garland upon a guide-board struck the fancy of the son. Pronouncing the name several times, and becoming enamored with it, he persuaded his father to visit the town with the attractive name before purchas- ing elsewhere. As a result of the visit, he purchased a part of lot six, range six, felled a piece of trees, built a log-cabin, into which he moved his family in 1825. The site of the cabin was at the center of the town on the south side of the center road running east and west, and nearly opposite the present residence of James M. Stone, for- merly the home of Joseph True. By virtue of the industry and economy to which they had been accustomed in the old country, they improved their condition from year to year. A few years later they were living in a comfortable house with such out buildings attached as characterize the home of a well-to- do farmer. Allured by the thrift of this family, other English 118 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE families emigrated to Garland from time to time, whose descendants have taken rank with our most industrious and prosperous citizens. This accession of English citi- zens may be traced to the attractive name given the town by our fathers. The family that emigrated to Belfast in 1823, and to Garland in 1825, was the family of Deacon James March. Deacon March often related to his new neighbors that in England after a hastily prepared breakfast, cooked over a fire of straw, he and his wife hastened to the harvest field, taking with them a small barley loaf, which served as food until darkness compelled a cessation from labor. A Copy of the Petition for Incorporation A copy of the petition for an act of incorporation, and of the names of the signers, taken from Massachu- setts records, was kindly furnished the writer by Dr. John F. Pratt of Chelsea, Mass. The petition, dated March 10, 1810, was placed in the hands of Honorable James Carr, representative to the General Court of Massachusetts from Bangor, who was requested to take charge of it. The petition read as follows : To the Honourable the Senate and House of Representa- tives in General Court Assembled, at Boston, June Session, 1810. Humbly Sheweth : The subscribers, inhabitants of Township No. Three in the Fifth Range of Townships North of the Waldo Patent in the County of Hancock, that at present there are between two hundred and two hundred and fifty souls resident in said Town and near HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 119 fifty persons liable to pay taxes. That from the first settlement of said Township which is nearly eight years since, we have been deprived of the benefit and privilege of an incorporation Wherefore your Petitioners pray the Legislature of this Commonwealth to incorporate them into a Town by the name of Garland, with all the rights and privileges that other towns are entitled in this Commonwealth by the Constitution, — Bounded as fol- lows : East by Township No. Two, in the same Range, on the North by Township No. Three, in the Sixth Range; bounded on the West by Township No. Four in the aforesaid Fifth Range; bounded on the South by Township No. Three in the Fourth Range of Townships North of the Waldo Patent aforesaid, conformable to the original lines and corners as run and set up by Gov- ernment Surveyors in the year of our LORD 1792, originally intended to include a Tract six miles square be the same more or less. Your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. Township Number three, March, 1810. (Signed) (signed) Edward Fifield. Phillip Greley. Isaac Hopkins. Justus Hariman. John Stevens. Simeon Morgan. John Hayes. John Knight. Nathaniel Fifield. John S. Haskell. John Trefetheren. Edward Pratt. Dudley L. Fogg. Joseph Garland. Thorn's Gillpatrick, Jr. Theophilus B. Morgan. John Pratt. Thomas Gillpatrick. Benj. Gillpatrick. Moses Gordon. Thomas S. Tyler. Josiah Bartlett. Silas Libbee. John Jack man. William Blasdell. Oliver Woodard. Jeremiah Flanders. Enoch Jackman. 120 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Cutteon Flanders. William Godwin. Enoch Clough. Abraham Bond. John E. Gordon. Samson Silver. Jacob Garland. Isaac Wheeler. William Dustin. William Sargent. Ezekiel Straw. James McClure. Amos Gordon. John Stevens. John Chandler. Andrew Kimball. Eleazer Woodard. Something of the history of each person whose name appears on the petition has been given in preceding pages, except in cases of Isaac Hopkins, John Stevens, Dudley L. Fogg, John and Edward Pratt, Silas Libbee and Oliver and Eleazer Woodard. The name of Isaac Hopkins appears on the voting list only in 1812. It may be inferred that he was only a temporary resident. John Stevens bargained for a small piece of land on John Chandler's lot, where he lived only a short time. He was a single man. Of Dudley L. Fogg tradition makes no mention. John and Edward Pratt were resi- dents here but a short time. They early took up their residence in Piscataquis County. Silas Libbee bought a piece of land on the old Harriman place, which he soon abandoned. He after- wards bought a part of the lot known as the Joseph M. Gerry place. He was not long a resident of Garland. Oliver Woodard made a beginning on lot four, range six, where George W. Adams formerly lived. The petition for an act of incorporation was probably copied from the form which other townships had used. In response to the petition, the following act was passed by the General Court of Massachusetts : HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 121 Act of Incorporation Commonwealth of Massachusetts In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven. An act to incorporate township number three in the fifth range of townships north of the Waldo Patent into a town by the name of Garland. Section 1st. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by authority of the same: That township number three in the fifth range of townships north of the Waldo Patent in the county of Hancock, bounded as follows: North- wardly by township number three in the sixth range; westwardly by township number four in the fifth range; southwardly by township number three in the fourth range; and eastwardly by township number two in the fifth range, together with the inhabitants thereof be, and hereby are incorporated into a town by the name of Garland vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities which other towns do, or may enjoy by the constitution and laws of this Commonwealth. Section 2. Be it further enacted, that any justice of the peace in said county of Hancock be, and hereby is empowered to issue his warrant directed to some suitable inhabitant of said town of Garland requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at such time and place as shall be expressed in said warrant, to choose all such officers as towns are by law required to choose in the month of March or April annually. In the House of Representatives, February 14, 1811. This bill having had then several readings was passed to be enacted. JOSEPH STORY, Speaker. 122 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE In Senate, February 14, 1811. This bill having had two several readings was passed to be enacted. H. G. OTIS, President. Council Chamber: 16th of February, 1811. Approved E. GERRY. Secretary's Office, February 11, 1811. A true copy, Attest BENJ. HAMANS Secretary of the Commonwealth of Mass. The act of incorporation was copied into the first volume of town records, and the correctness of the copy attested by Joseph Treadwell, Garland's first town clerk. An inspection of the geographical description of the township will show that county and State lines have been changed since the incorporation of the town. The act of incorporation had the effect of converting an unorganized, into an organized community, and of investing it with all the powers, privileges and immuni- ties that a town may exercise and enjoy. Through the agency of the courts it could now enforce legal claims against individuals or communities, and defend itself against claims of an opposite character. It could now assess taxes to make roads, to build schoolhouses, sup- port schools and for other public purposes and enforce their payment. It was brought into political relations with State and National governments. The ballot of its humblest voter would weigh as much in determining who should be governor or president as that of the wealthiest or most aristocratic citizen of the State. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 123 The transformation of township to town had been made under auspicious conditions. The act of incor- poration, the bill of rights of the inhabitants, had been granted by the State of Massachusetts which had been the home of the Pilgrim and the Puritan, the state that had given to New England the school, the church and the town meeting, and to the country the best type of civilization the world had ever known, the state whose soil was the first stained by patriot blood in the War of the Revolution. The renowned jurist, Joseph Story, signed the act as Speaker of the House. The cultured and polished Harrison Gray Otis signed it as President of the Senate, and Elbridge Gerry, afterwards Vice President of the United States, approved it as Governor. Garland in 1811 The crowning act of the township in 1811 was its assumption of the powers, privileges and immunities of a corporate existence. The inhabitants of the new town had now only to await the coming of that characteristic New England institution, the town meeting, to enter upon the exercise of their new powers. The inhabitants of the new town now impatiently awaited the act of incorporation which seemed very slow in coming. The nearest post-office was at Bangor, twenty-five miles away, and to the post-office in Bangor the document was sent. A messenger, who was awaiting its arrival, took it immediately to Garland. In this year of grace, 1897, a document mailed in Boston late in the afternoon of a specified day, would reach the post-office in Gar- 124 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE land on the forenoon of the next dav. The document which the inhabitants of. Garland were impatiently awaiting in that memorable March of 1811, was a little more than two weeks in coming to the Bangor post-office. On its arrival at Garland, it was placed in the hands of Isaac Wheeler, who held a commission of justice of the peace bearing the seal of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts. Squire Wheeler forthwith issued the following war- rant, dated March 16, 1811 : L. S. Hancock js: To Amos Gordon, one of the inhabitants of Garland in said county of Hancock, Greeting : L. S. You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to notify and warn the Freeholders and other inhabitants of said town qualified by law to vote in town affairs, to assemble at the dwelling house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., on Monday the first day of April next at nine o'clock in the forenoon for the following purposes: (viz.) 1st. To choose a moderator to govern said Meeting. 2d. To choose a Town Clerk. 3d. To choose three Select Men. 4th. To choose three Assessors. 5th. To choose a Constable. 6th. To see what the town will do with respect to a collector. 7th. To choose all other officers that the law requires. 8th. To see how much money the town will raise to repair highways. 9th. To see how much money the town will raise for the support of schools. 10th. To see what the town will do with respect to building schoolhouses. HISTORY OF OAKLAND, MAINE 125 11th. To see how much money the town will raise to defray the expenses of the town. 12th. To do all other business that the town shall think proper when assembled. Given under my hand and seal this 16th day of March, 1811. ISAAC WHEELER, Justice of the Peace. Upon the above warrant Mr. Gordon made the fol- lowing return : In pursuance of the above warrant to me directed, I do hereby notify and warn the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Garland qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the time and place mentioned in the foregoing warrant and for the purpose therein expressed : This 18th day of March, 1811. AMOS GORDON. A true copy — Attest, JOSEPH TREADWELL, Town Clerk. The matters of business presented in this warrant were couched in forms that had been transmitted to the inhabitants of Garland through successive generations, and are still in general use. The items of business were presented in these preliminary proceedings with a clear- ness and propriety of expression that would not be dis- creditable to any board of town officers that have had the affairs of the town in charge from that day to this. Two classes of voters were mentioned in the warrant — freeholders and other inhabitants qualified to vote in town affairs. The freeholder was an inhabitant who held an estate of a prescribed value in his own right. This gave him the right to vote in State and National 126 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE affairs as well as in town affairs. The other inhabitants mentioned were those whose estate did not reach the prescribed value. These could vote only in town affairs. The First Town Meeting i-> The first town meeting was held on the first day of April, 1811, at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., which stood upon the site of the residence of the late William B. Foss, now the home of F. D. Wood and family, a few rods north of the Free Baptist church. The advent of the town meeting was the beginning of a new era to the inhabitants of Garland. They had lived together for eight years with no semblance of organization. No inhabitant could be compelled to per- form the slightest service for the public good although he would share the benefit of such service equally with other inhabitants. The citizens had been groping along cir- cuitous paths in the wilderness, carrying their burdens upon horseback or conveyances of the rudest character. Their children were living without schools, save here and there one at uncertain intervals of time, supported by voluntary subscriptions. Other matters relating to the public convenience and welfare had been neglected, but the town meeting, the most democratic of American institutions, had come, bringing with it the elements of prosperity and progress. It could not, indeed, create wealth, but it could levy taxes upon existing resources and establish schools. That potent factor of representative government, the voice of the majority, could compel the citizen, willing or not, to bear his share of the public burdens. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 127 The coming of the first town meeting was an occasion of great importance to the inhabitants for reasons other than those which have been noticed. It created places of trust, responsibility and honor that must be filled. It created emoluments which although at the present time would be regarded of trifling importance, were not matters of entire indifference then. It would not be uncharitable to suppose that some of the more promi- nent citizens, ambitious for office, had been modestly awaiting honors which they believed would be thrust upon them. There were others who were glad of an oppor- tunity to express in some tangible form their good-will towards an esteemed neighbor or friend. There were still others who cherished favorite plans in respect to the location of roads and schoolhouses, and if these could be realized, they cared but little who bore away the honors and emoluments of office. Punctually at the hour, the inhabitants assembled at the appointed place, and organized the first town meet- ing by the choice of Thomas Gilpatrick for moderator, and Joseph Treadwell for clerk. Josiah Bartlett, Isaac Wheeler and Thomas Gilpatrick were chosen selectmen and assessors. Edward Fifield was chosen constable and collector, and was voted a compensation of ten dollars for collecting all taxes for the year 1811. Isaac Wheeler, Esq., was chosen treasurer. John Chandler, Amos Gordon, Josiah Bartlett, John Hayes, Joseph Saunders, Thomas S. Tyler and Ezekiel Straw were chosen highway surveyors. The choosing of high- way surveyors at this meeting seems a little premature as no highways had been established. They were instructed to allow twelve and one half cents per hour for work on the highways, a precedent that has been fol- lowed to the present time. William Godwin, Andrew Kimball and James McClure were chosen surveyors of 128 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE boards. Joseph Tread well and Amos Gordon were chosen surveyors of split lumber. William Sargent, Benjamin Gilpatrick, William Palmer, P. Greeley, Cutteon Flanders and 0. Woodward were chosen hog- reeves. William Blaisdell, Justus Harriman and Moses Gordon were chosen fence-viewers. Isaac Wheeler was chosen sealer of weights and measures. John S. Haskell and William Sargent were chosen field-drivers. Enoch Jackman was chosen sealer of leather. The record of Garland's first town meeting closes with the following entry : Voted to dissolve the meeting. Accordingly it was dissolved. A true copy of proceedings, Attest, JOSEPH TREADWELL, Clerk. The handwriting and general neatness of Mr. Treadwell's record is very creditable. An inspection of the records will show a disposition to make the honors of office go to as many of the inhabitants as possible. Seven highway surveyors were appointed when, as yet, not a single highway had been established. Several other offices were filled for which there was no apparent use. This first town meeting was without doubt a meeting of the genuine New England type. The inhabitants had come together to exercise the rights and enjoy the privi- leges with which they had so recently been invested. In the town meeting, each inhabitant was the equal of every other, and each could represent his own views upon every question by voice and vote. It may be assumed that the proceedings were not strictly parliamentary. In the typical New England town meeting, the sharp personal thrust and instant retort, whether in order or not, can no more be anticipated than lightning from a HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 129 cloudless sky. The roar of laughter that follows is the safety-valve for the escape of dangerous elements. The Second Town Meeting The year 1811 was fruitful of town meetings. The second town meeting was held at the residence of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., on April 22, 1811. Edward Fifield was chosen moderator. The main purpose of this meeting was to consider and act on the question of roads. To the inhabitants of the new town this was a question of serious difficulty on account of the long stretch of road demanded for the public convenience. If the forty- five families of the town had been located on contiguous lots in some particular section, the burden of making roads would have been greatly diminished, but they were scattered over a large part of its surface. There were families on the eastern border of the town and on the western. There were families in the extreme northwest corner, and in the southwest corner, as well as in the central part of the town. All these families must be accommodated. There was one favorable condition. There could be no dispute about routes. These had been predetermined by the original proprietors of the township, who had caused it to be surveyed into squares whose sides were one mile long, by range ways running through it from north to south and from east to west. These range ways constituted the routes for roads. Nothing remained to be done but to determine distances, and to indicate here and there a deviation from the direct route to avoid natural obstacles. 130 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE At this meeting the selectmen submitted their report on the subject of roads. The first route described in the report, extended from the west line of the town through its center, to its east line, and the road is now known as the east and west center road. Within one and one half miles of the east line of the town, some deviations from the range line were indicated as desirable, but some years later, the route was restored to the range line. And still later a curve to the north was made near the old Bartlett place to avoid the steep part of the hill at that point. The second route described in the report of the select- men and accepted by the town, followed the range line between the eighth and ninth ranges, from the west line of the town to the southeast corner of lot four in the ninth range of lots. This route was a mile north of the east and west center route and parallel to it. The width of this road was fixed at three rods. A section of road upon this route, reaching from the west line of the town to the Sangerville county road, was built ; also a shorter section, reaching from the recent site of the schoolhouse in district number five, one half mile east, and passing the Horace Davis and Emerson places. The part of the route between these two sections of road was discon- tinued by vote of the town. The families, now residing on the westerly section are those of George Arnold, Charles Carr and Robert McComb. The third route described in the report, extended from the west line of the town at a point near the present residence of Mark Jennings, easterly between the fourth and fifth ranges of lots, to the corner a few rods east of the site of the Congregational church. The fourth was a short route in the southwest part of the town. The fifth route began on the range way at the top of HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 131 the hill, a few rods north of the residence then of the Rev. John Sawyer, but now owned by D. F. Patten, and ran southerly over the site of the present village to Exeter line. The larger part of this route became, a few years later, a section of the road leading into Piscataquis County. It was to be four rods wide. The sixth route described in the report, extended northerly from the southeast corner of land now owned and occupied by Alfred Patterson, to the point of inter- section with the county road now leading to Sangerville. One mile of the southern section of this route has never been built, the starting point having been changed to a point near the Maple Grove Cemetery, running thence in a northwesterly direction and intersecting the original route near the site of the present residence of Charles Greeley. The town voted to accept the report of selectmen relating to routes, and to establish roads in accordance therewith. It voted also to establish a road from the northwest corner of J. Bartlett's land, to the southwest corner of J. McClure's land, thence to the mill. This vote embraced the existing road, leading from the north- west corner of the farm now owned by Calvin Campbell, to the southwest corner of the cemetery near the school- house in district number seven. From the cemetery the line of the road ran westerly to a point near the site of the present residence of James Rideout, where it bore to the south and intersected the route of the road running south, where it is now inter- sected by the road from Holt's Mills. A few years later the route from the present Rideout place was changed so as to run in a pretty direct course to the crest of the hill, a few rods north of the present grist- mill. In 1855, the road was again changed to avoid the dangerous turn at the point of intersection with the 132 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE north and south road. This change was from the Preble Brook to L. Oak's store. At this second meeting the town had voted to make twenty miles of road. This was a necessity of the time, but it proved a troublesome necessity. Eighteen miles of road embraced in this action of the town are now in use. Many years passed before any of these roads became passable for the modern carriage. At this meeting the town voted to raise five hundred dollars to make and repair highways. Although the second town meeting was devoted mainly to the consid- eration of roads, the question of schools received some attention. So closely connected in the New England mind of those early days were roads and schools that an appropriation for one was immediately followed by an appropriation for the other. At the meeting the town voted to raise one hundred dollars for the support of schools, and that the school money should be paid in corn at five shillings, rye at seven shillings and wheat at eight shillings per bushel. This, with similar votes from year to year in the earlier days of the town's history, shows that corn, rye and wheat were an important element in the currency of the inhabitants, which, with all its disadvantages, had the merit of an intrinsic value in harmony with that by which it had been invested by the legislature of the town, a merit of which some of the modern schemes relating to currency are lamentably destitute. The present generation may well regard the robust honesty of their fathers with pride. Another vote at the meeting of 1811 was that each district should build its own schoolhouse. This vote seems a little premature, inasmuch as not a single district had been established, but it disclosed an interest in HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 133 schools which was an ever-abiding element in the hearts of the early inhabitants. The proceedings of the second town meeting of 1811 were closed by a vote to raise fifty dollars to defray town charges. The Third Town Meeting of 1811 This meeting assembled at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., on the 31st day of August, 1811. Its main pur- pose was to consider the question of schools. Thomas Gilpatrick was chosen moderator, and Dr. James Parker, clerk. A committee of three, embracing Joseph Garland, Justus H. Harriman and William Blaisdell, was chosen to divide the town into school districts with instructions to report at the next meeting of the town. It was voted that the method of warning town meet- ings should be by written notification, and that said notification be set up at some place at least seven days previous to said meeting, except in some extraordinary case of emergency. In such case the method should be left to the discretion of the selectmen. The last pro- vision of this vote is significant as showing that ominous shadows of an impending national conflict were hanging over those homes in the forest, and that the purpose of the inhabitants was to hold themselves in readiness to respond to the call of their country with patriotic promptitude, come when it might. 134 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The Fourth Town Meeting of 1811 The fourth and last town meeting of 1811 was held at the house of Isaac AVheeler, Esq., September 22d. Thomas Gilpatrick was chosen moderator, and Dr. James Parker, clerk pro tern. Its purpose was to hear the report of the committee on the division of the town into school districts, and to take such action with reference thereto as well as to the general question of schools, as the majority should determine. The action of the town with reference to this matter seems to have been in harmonv with the recommendations of the committee on divisions. It was voted that all the settlement east of the center road running north and south be one district. It also voted that the center road running east and west, together with the road north of this (and parallel to it) be one district with the privilege of two schoolhouses. It voted that the settlement by E. Fifield's should be one district. This was in the southwest part of the town. Josiah Bartlett was appointed school agent for the district east of the north and south center road. Joseph Garland was appointed agent for the second district, and Edward Fifield for the third district. It was voted that each district should build its own school- house. The Rev. John Sawyer, Dr. J. Parker and Isaac Wheeler were chosen superintending school committee. This was the first school committee of the town. The vote of the previous meeting that each district should build its own schoolhouse, was reaffirmed. The attempts of the inhabitants of the town to par- tition it into school districts, and to locate and build HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 135 schoolhouses, gave rise to a long and persistent if not bitter struggle between opposing factions. The theater of the struggle was sometimes the town meeting, and sometimes the school district meeting. The history and results of the struggle will be given in another con- nection. Garland in 1812 The year 1812 like that of 1811 was fruitful of town meetings. Business had been accumulating during the eight years of the unorganized condition of the town- ship. Now, having been invested with municipal powers, business that had been neglected, much of it important, confronted its inhabitants. The town had exceptional difficulties to encounter in providing for the welfare of its people on account of their being so much scattered over its surface. At a meeting in 1811 it had voted to make twenty- two miles of road. This was a task that would require many years in the performance. But this long stretch of road failed to reach all the families. There was an urgent demand for more road. But the division of the town into school districts, and the location and building of schoolhouses, presented questions of a much more perplexing character. The annual meeting of 1812 was held at the home of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., on April 6th. Amos Gordon was chosen moderator, Jacob Garland town clerk, Isaac Wheeler, Josiah Bartlett and John Trefethen were chosen selectmen and assessors. The town voted that twenty dollars in cash should be 136 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE raised to defray town charges, and that every man should deliver his tax money into the hands of the town treas- urer. John Hayes was chosen collector, and was voted a compensation of four dollars for his services in this capacity. Amos Gordon was chosen town treasurer. The town voted to raise seven hundred dollars to make and repair highways, two hundred dollars for the sup- port of schools, and one hundred and thirty dollars to defray town charges. Twelve and one half cents per hour was voted for labor on the roads. It was voted to allow six shillings for corn, seven shillings for rye and eight shillings for wheat in payment for taxes. At an adjourned meeting, held April 7th, the town instructed the selectmen to provide powder at their own discretion, which indicated a prudent regard for the time- honored maxim, "In time of peace prepare for war. '; The First Vote for Governor On the same day of the annual town meeting of 1812, such inhabitants of Garland as were qualified to vote for governor, having been duly warned in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, gave in their votes for governor, lieutenant governor and three senators. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 13T The First Voting List on Record Names of the inhabitants of Garland legally qualified to vote for governor, lieutenant governor, senators and oounty treasurer: Josiah Bartlett. Abram Bond. William Blaisdell. Isaac Copeland. John Chandler. John M. Chase. James McCluer. William Dustin. Edward Fifield. Cutteon Flanders. Jeremiah Flanders. Joseph Garland. Amos Gordon. John Gordon. Jacob Garland. Benj. Gilpatrick, Jr. Thomas Gilpatrick. Phillip Greeley. Moses Gordon. Isaac Hopkins. John S. Haskell. John Hayes. Manoah Harriman. William Church. John Saunders. Nathaniel Fifield. John Grant. Thos. Gilpatrick, Jr. Justus Harriman. Enoch Jackman. James Hutchinson. John Jackman. John Knight. Silas Libbee. Simeon Morgan. James Parker. Rev. John Sawyer. Ezekiel Straw. Moses Saunders. Joseph Saunders. Oliver Saunders. John Stephens. William Sargent. Sampson Silver. Thomas Tyler. John Trefethen. Joseph Treadwell. Sullivan Tyler. Isaac Wheeler. Oliver Woodward. William Godwin. Enoch Clough. Landeras Grant. Simon French. James Jackman. James Godwin. Selectmen, Isaac Wheeler. Thomas Gilpatrick. Josiah Bartlett. 138 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE For Governor. Hon. Elbridge Gerry had thirty-five votes. Hon. Caleb Strong had thirteen votes. Scattering, four votes. For Lieutenant Governor. Hon. William King had thirty -seven votes. Hon. William Philips had fourteen votes. Although war with Great Britain had not yet been declared, active preparations for the anticipated event were in progress. The preponderance of sentiment in the old Commonwealth was adverse to the war. But in less than three months war was formally proclaimed by President Madison, whose term of office would expire in the following March. The political forces which would determine whether or not Mr. Madison should be his own successor, were being marshalled in every town how- ever new, small or remote, within the limits of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The voters of Garland gave their approval to the war policy of President Madison by a majority of almost three to one. History repeated itself when, in 1864, the War of the Rebellion was nearing its close, and Abraham Lincoln was a candidate for reelection, the opposition declared the war a failure and went into the campaign with that as its main issue. The second meeting of the town in 1812 was held at Church's mills on the 25th of July. The purpose of this meeting was mainly to consider the matter of roads, an account of which will appear in another place. The only other business transacted was to instruct the selectmen to buy forty pounds of powder and balls and flints in proportion, at the expense of the town. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 139 A third town meeting was held at the house of Joseph Garland on the 24th day of September, 1812, to con- sider a school district question, without result. A fourth town meeting was held on the second day of November, 1812, at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., to consider the question of school districts. First Vote for Member of Congress for the Kennebec District On the second day of November, 1812, the voters of Garland assembled at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., to give in their votes for a member of Congress to represent the Kennebec District, when Hon. James Carr received seventeen votes; Hon. John Wilson received seventeen votes. The First Vote for a Presidential Elector On the 12th day of November, 1812, the inhabitants of Garland qualified to vote for presidential electors, assembled at the house of John Grant to give in their votes for that officer. Hon. William Crosby received twenty-three votes, Hon. James Campbell received four- teen votes. A town meeting was held at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., on the 17th of November, 1812. This meeting was devoted exclusively to the consideration of the school question. The articles of business named in the warrant calling the meeting were all "passed over.'' The year 1812 closed the first decade of the history of Garland as a township. It had now been invested with corporate powers. 140 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Construction of Early Houses It has been said that the life of a country or com- munity is the essential fact of history. While the history of the lives of the early settlers of Garland may be devoid of interest to the general reader, it cannot fail to be of interest to their descendants. A very few of the first houses in Garland, including those of the two or three first settlers, were built of logs. The proprietors of the township had built a saw- mill before other houses were needed. A saw-mill had also been built in the township now known as Dexter, which accommodated the settlers of the western and northwestern sections of Garland. Sawed lumber now took the place of logs in the con- struction of buildings. Nails made one by one, by the blacksmith of the township were used. The first framed house in the township was built by Joseph Treadwell for John Tyler, upon the farm now owned by Charles Brown. Mr. Treadwell was the grandfather of our present citi- zen, Joseph Treadwell. He came from New Gloucester, Maine, in the summer of 1802, on horseback, bringing his tools with him, cut, hewed and framed the timber and hauled it to the building site, raised and covered the walls and roof the same summer. He finished the house in the summer of 1803. A gambrel roof covered the body of the house. To the regret of many of our older citizens, this quaint old house gave place to one of more modern con- struction years ago. The earl>r houses had, as a general rule, only a single room upon the ground floor. In this, the unwieldy loom, the spinning-wheel, and bed for the heads of the HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 141 family found place. There were no partitions save as quilts and comforters served as such. The pride of the housewife was the large, red dresser, with open shelves at the top, where were displayed the shining rows of bright tin dishes. A heavy cleat door, swinging on wooden hinges, furnished with a wooden latch, indicated the place of ingress and exit. On the outside, the door was opened by a string attached to the latch, which passed through a hole above it to the inside. When the family retired at night, the string was pulled in for the safety of its inmates. The second floor was of rough boards or splits placed across the floor timbers. Sometimes straight poles laid closely together across the floor timbers were made to do service as a floor. The second floor was reached by a ladder. How Houses Were Warmed "Shut in from all the world without We sat the clean-winged hearth about; Content to let the north wind roar With baffled rage at pane and door. While the red logs before us beat The frost line back with tropic heat. "What matter how the night behaved ? What matter how the north wind raved ? Blow high, blow low, not all its snow Could quench our house fires' ruddy glow." — Whittier. The capacious stone fire-place with smoke flues of boards or sticks imbedded in clay mortar, was a marked feature of the earlv homes. Such chimnevs were some- times burned without much injury to the house. 142 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The various appliances for kindling fires at the present time were then unknown. It was therefore necessaiw to preserve fire from night until morning. This was done by protecting the glow- ing coals with an ample covering of ashes. In case of failure to preserve the fire through the night, the only resort was to borrow from the nearest neighbor regard- less of distance. An All- Day Fire The first thing of a cold winter morning was to lay the foundation for an all-day fire. The ample bed of coals, that had reposed under a covering of ashes, was scraped aside with the large iron shovel. A log of birch or maple of the average size of eighteen or twenty inches in diameter had been drawn in on a hand sled or raised up on end and hitched along, first on one corner and then the other. This was placed in the back of the fire- place and upon it a back log was laid. A large fore- stick was placed on the andirons in front. Stones were sometimes used in place of andirons. The foundation of the all-day fire was now complete. Kindlings and fine wood, dried between the jambs of the capacious fire- place, were used to start the fire. In due time the "frost line'" was forced back towards the rear of the room. The open fire was used to cook the food of the family. In the long-handled frying-pan, heated by the glowing coals, meat, fish and game were cooked. Indian meal, rye meal, and rye and Indian meal mixed, were spread upon long, shoal tins and baked by the heat of the open HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 143 fire. A fat, nicely dressed chicken or other fowl, hang- ing by the legs before the glowing coals of the huge fire- place, held by a flaxen string fastened to the floor tim- bers above, was not an unusual sight. How the Houses Were Lighted The blaze of the large open fire furnished all the light needed in the main room for ordinary purposes. If the boys and girls desired light to prepare their lessons for the next day's school, they would bring pine knots from the forest for the needed additional light. Portable lights were prepared by coiling a narrow piece of twisted cotton cloth in a dish of lard. Tallow candles run in moulds came into early use. Furniture of the Times The furniture of the early settlers, if indeed the word thus used is not a misnomer, was of the rudest descrip- tion. The substitutes were such as could be made with the saw, axe, auger and shave, supplemented by nails from the hands of the common blacksmith. 144 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The Clothing of the Inhabitants "I hear the humming of the wheel — Strange music of the days gone by — I hear the clicking of the reel, Once more I see the spindle fly: How then I wondered at the thread That narrowed from the snowy wool, Much more to see the pieces wed, And wind upon the whirling spool." — Walter Bruce. The materials that entered into the clothing of the early settlers were wool, linen and cotton. Some of them brought woolen yarn from the homes of their child- hood. Sheep in small numbers were early brought into the township. Almost every family cultivated a small piece of flax, which when ready for harvest, was cut and spread evenly in rows, where it remained until the bark of the plant that concealed the long, fine fiber was decomposed by the influences of sun, dew and rain. Then under cover of barn or shed it was passed through a flax-brake, a clumsy wooden machine worked by hand. This was the first step in the process of ridding the fiber of the bark. The process was completed by the use of a large wooden knife, called a swingling-knife, by which the fiber was cleared of the small pieces of bark still adhering to it. The fiber was then passed through the hatchel to free it from the short, coarse fiber called tow, which was util- ized for various purposes. It was now drawn into thread on the small wheel and woven into cloth which was used as clothing for men, women and children, also for table linen and toweling. Any surplus above the wants of the family was readily sold in Bangor. It was often exchanged for cotton, which in turn was manufactured on the wheel and loom HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 145 for home use or sale. Cotton and wool were also trans- formed into cloth bv wheel and loom. It must not be inferred that the spinning and weaving of the early days were irksome to those who performed them. To the ears of the ambitious housewife, the hum of the wheel upon which the thread was drawn from the wool, and the rattle of the shuttle, passing swiftly back and forth between the warp and woof, associated as they were with the future comfort of husband and children, were music as inspiring as that of band or orchestra. The movements of the maiden, vieing with the mother for excellence of achievement at the wheel, were as grace- ful as any in the fashionable ballroom. Their Food The food of the early settlers of the township was simple and substantial. Salt pork, salt beef, game and fish from forest and stream, entered largely into their food supply. Johnny cakes, rye cakes, and cakes of rye and Indian meal mixed, were baked in oblong tins by the heat of the coals of the open fire. This was before brick ovens came into use. Hasty puddings were also relished. In some families bean por- ridge was a favorite and convenient dish. It could be made in large quantities and its keeping qualities were good, as according to the old proverb, bean porridge hot or cold, is best when nine days old. The soil of the township was well adapted to the pro- duction of wheat, and sometimes forty bushels of that cereal were produced on a single acre of land. Wheat flour entered but slightly into the food supply of the 146 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE period, on account of lack of machinery to manufacture it into flour. A Luxury Maple syrup was one of the few luxuries of the early settlers. The boys of the families looked forward to the season of its manufacture with fond anticipations. The methods employed were of a rude character. In the latter part of February the work of preparation was begun. By the aid of the gimlet and jack-knife, wooden conductors were made to carry the sap into troughs, which were used instead of the tin pails of the present time. The troughs were made from logs of basswood, about three and one half feet in length, and fifteen to eighteen inches in diameter, split into halves, which were hollowed with an axe, and subjected to heat to close the pores of the wood to prevent leakage. When the period for active operations arrived, the troughs and conductors were distributed to the trees of the sugar orchard. Small holes from four to five inches deep were bored into the tree, three to four feet from the ground, into which the conductors were driven. The clumsy troughs were placed to receive the sap as it ran from the trees, which was generally gathered in the morning, and poured into a receptacle placed at a central point. Two or more iron kettles were suspended from a hori- zontal pole far enough from the ground to allow a hot fire beneath them, which forced the water off, leaving the syrup for the delectation of family and friends. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 147 Social Life Separated from parents, brothers and sisters, and the companions of their earlier life, and subjected to hard- ships and privations common to them all, the primitive settlers who met as strangers became fast friends at sight. Scattered over the entire area of the township, through the mistaken policy of the original proprietors, the interchange of visits was much less frequent than would have been the case had they been compactly located. They were a very hospitable people, and the latch - string was always out, not only to the inhabitants of their own township, but to those of other townships. Visits were more common in winter than in summer. The men were more at leisure. Horse or ox-teams could be driven at will among the trees at this season. A pair of quick-moving steers hitched to a common ox-sled was regarded as a good turnout. John Morgan, one of the early settlers of the town- ship now known as Dexter, who was on neighborly terms with the people of Garland, was accustomed to boast of a more aristocratic turnout than any of his neighbors possessed. He was the owner of a carpenter's bench which, turned bottom up on his ox sled, was supplied with a generous layer of clean straw whereon his family could rest their feet, and seats of boards, supported by the sides of the bench. The visiting party being pro- tected by comforters and quilts, and the quick-moving oxen attached to the sled, now started joyously on their way to friends who were ready to receive them with open arms. In summer the people went from house to house on foot or horseback. The conditions of life in the new township which have been described, refer particularly to the first ten years of its history. 148 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The Conquest of the Forest At the beginning of the present century, the township was covered with a heavy forest growth. There were gigantic maples whose spreading tops had waved in the storms of centuries, and whose massive trunks having no marketable value were relentlessly consigned to the flames. There were also the tall, towering pines whose trunks had never been disfigured by the "King's mark.'' Intermingled with these, Avere many varieties of humbler growth, all of which must give way to sunlight and civilization. The removal of this imposing forest growth required courage and muscle, both of which the pioneers of the township possessed in large measure. The felling of the trees was generally performed in the month of June. Armed with his favorite axe of polished steel and keen edge, the pioneer commenced his attack upon that portion of the forest that came within the scope of the year's plans. After a careful inspection of the configu- ration of the ground, and the inclination of the trees, he chopped into both sides of each, on a strip of one to two rods wide, and of indefinite length. One of the giants of the forest with widely spreading branches was then felled, which, descending with great force, carried with it the trees next in range, and these, in turn, carrying others, until all that had been nitched reached the ground with a terrific crash. This in the vernacular of the period was a "drive." The breaking of the strong, coarse fibers of the trees, subjected to this irresistible force, was sometimes heard on a clear, still morning, two or three miles away, and was strikingly suggestive of human agony. The next step in clearing land was the dropping of HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 149 the limbs from the prostrated trunks of the trees, with the axe, the only tool which has not been radically changed in form within the last one hundred years. The limbs and leaves were packed together to facili- tate the burning when the torch should be applied in the coming autumn, or more frequently, in the following spring. When the large amount of combustible matter was believed to be in condition for a "good burn," fires were started at different points. The terrific roaring of the flames, as they leaped from point to point, rising above the surrounding tree tops, and the dense volume of smoke that shut off the light of the sun, lingered in the memories of our fathers until the end of life. The "felled piece" having been cleared of the leaves and small limbs by fire, the work of hand-piling was next in order. This meant the piling by hand of the larger limbs and brands that had not been reduced to ashes. When these piles were burned, the land was ready for the reception of seed, from which sprang the first crops, embracing corn and subsidiary crops, such as potatoes, beans, and garden vegetables. Planting Corn Corn and other seeds were planted on the patches of land between the blackened trunks of the prostrate trees. The planter provided himself with a little bag which was suspended from his waist, filled with seed, and a hoe with a blade about three inches wide, with a handle fifteen to eighteen inches long. With his strong right arm, he thrust the hoe through the scurf on the surface 150 of the ground into the underlying loam, threw the seed into the incision, and pressing the earth above the seed with his foot, he passed on, repeating the process until the planting was completed. If he had been favored with a "good burn," only a little labor was required from the planting to the har- vesting of the crop. There were two classes of harvesters, bipedal and quadrupedal. As soon as the kernels of corn began to take form on the cob, the bears and smaller quadrupeds began their harvesting. Various expedients were put in requisition to limit the depredation of these animals, but not with entire success. But in spite of these drawbacks, the pioneer obtained a fair crop of corn, any surplus of which, above the needs of his family, entered into the currency of the period at prices fixed by common custom. The next step in clearing land was to divest it of the trunks of the trees that were scattered over it. These were cut into sections, hauled together, placed in piles, and burned. The land was now ready for the crop of the second year. The second crop, in the first ten years of the town- ship's history, was more often a crop of rye than any other, because there were early facilities to grind it. The soil was well adapted to the growth of wheat, but this crop was neglected on account of the lack of the more expensive machinery for reducing it to flour. Bread of rye meal, mixed with corn meal, was regarded as excellent food. Grass seed was sown with the grain for the second crop, and the grass springing therefrom, became the crop of the third year. The pioneer enlarged his "opening' ' each year by the process that has been described, and the same alternation of crops followed in each triennial HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 151 period, until at midsummer, his eyes were greeted with waving crops of grass and grain, and in autumn, he received the cheerful salutations of his tasseled corn, and watched the gambols of his growing flocks. He now enters a new decade. The township having assumed a corporate existence, had exchanged the elon- gated name of Lincolntown for the euphonic name of Garland. The first kiln of bricks having been made in 1812, upon the old homestead of the late William S. Haskell, the huge stone fire-places began to give way to brick fire-places and ovens. Garland in 1813 The annual town meeting of 1813, was held at the house of Isaac Wheeler on the 5th day of April. Josiah Bartlett was chosen moderator, Jacob Garland, town clerk, Isaac Wheeler, William Blaisdell and Joseph Garland, selectmen and assessors. The Rev. John Sawyer, Isaac Wheeler and Joseph Garland were chosen superintending school committee. It was voted to raise one hundred and fifty dollars for schools, six hundred dollars for highways, and one hundred dollars for town charges. It was voted to pay town charges and school money in corn, rye and wheat, at six, seven and nine shillings per bushel respectively. Town meetings were not of so frequent occurrence in 1813 as in the two preceding years. The second and last meeting for municipal purposes in 1813, was held on the 30th of October, at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., and was devoted to the considera- tion of roads and bridges. 152 West Garland A building was erected at West Garland about the year 1813, possibly a year earlier, by Stephen Kimball, a citizen of Bangor, and Abner Sanborn, who was after- wards for several years a prominent citizen of Garland, for the purpose of wool-carding and cloth dressing. Messrs. Kimball and Sanborn put up a building, also, for the manufacture of potash from wood-ashes, of which the large quantities of hard-wood consumed in the capacious fire-places of the times, afforded an abundant supply. Asa Soule, who afterwards made a beginning on the land adjoining the town farm, was given charge of the wool-carding and cloth dressing business. He was suc- ceeded by Benjamin Mayo, a brother of the late John G. Mayo, the well known manufacturer of Foxcroft. About the same time Edward Fifield built a saw and grist-mill upon the site now occupied by the mills of Lewis Crowell. He also built a house which was his home for several years. In the early efforts to utilize the water-power at the outlet of Pleasant Pond, the present village at West Garland had its origin. In later years, and farther down on the stream, Horace Gordon and his son, H. Lester Gordon, have used the water power at West Gar- land for manufacturing purposes. Still farther down Amos Gordon has a saw and shingle-mill. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 153 Garland in 1814 The annual meeting for town business was held at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., on the 4th day of April. Josiah Bartlett was chosen moderator, and Jacob Gar- land, town clerk. Ezekiel Straw, Benjamin Gilpatrick Jr. , and Isaac Copeland were chosen selectmen and assess- ors, and Isaac Wheeler, Esq., was chosen treasurer. Rev. John Sawyer, Isaac Wheeler, Esq., and Abner Sanborn were chosen superintending school committee. The town voted to raise eight hundred dollars for highways, two hundred dollars for schools, seventy-five dollars to defray town charges and fifty dollars to buy powder and balls. The treasurer was voted a compen- sation of six dollars, and the collector was allowed five and three quarters per cent, for collecting taxes. The election of state and county officers was held the same day. For Governor. William Dexter received twenty-four votes. Caleb Strong received twenty-two votes. For Lieutenant Governor. William Gray received twenty-four votes. William Phillips received twenty-four votes. At a town meeting held on December 3d, 1814, one of the items in the warrant was to see if the town would vote to lay out a road from the Lake, so called, to Exe- ter line. The swampy land lying between the present residences of John Campbell and Henry M. Paine, south of Garland village, was for many years known as the Lake. The incidents that suggested this name have been narrated on a preceding page. 154 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The War of 1812 To the inhabitants of the Penobscot Valley, the year 1814 was a year of excitement. The war with England had been in progress for two years, but hitherto it had been waged at a distance. Now it was nearing, and cit- izens of military age were in constant expectancy of being called into active service. On the 17th of August, 1814, the United States ship of war, the Adams, carrying twenty-five guns, was driven by stress of weather upon rocks near the Isle au Haut, a small island near the southern limits of Penobscot Bay, and disabled. Her gallant commander, Captain Morris, immediately took her up the river to Hampden for repairs. The Adams had been preying upon English commerce, having captured several English vessels within the preceding three months. For these reasons she was to the English an ardently coveted prize. When the accident to the Adams, and its locality, had come to the ears of the enemy, its capture was immediately deter- mined upon. On the first day of September, 1814, Captain Morris of the Adams was waited on by a mes- senger who had come in hot haste to inform him that several English vessels were making their way up the river. Captain Morris, well knowing that the coming of the enemy meant a desperate attempt to capture the Adams, hastened to establish a battery of fourteen guns upon the wharf, and another of nine guns on an elevation fifty rods down the river. While the mariners were placing the guns in position, Captain Morris, obtaining an interview with General Blake, who was in command of the land forces, assured him that if he could be protected from a flank movement by the enemy's forces, he could easily arrest the passage of his vessels up river. This inter- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 155 view, at which some of the prominent citizens of Hamp- den and vicinity were present, disclosed a fatal lack of decision and unity of sentiment as to what should be done in the emergency that confronted them. Some of the citizens fearing that resistance would lead to the destruction of the town were in favor of throwing them- selves upon the magnanimity of the enemy. Captain Morris declared in a few brief and burning words that nothing could be hoped from British mag- nanimity, and added — "Keep the enemy from outflank- ing me and I will arrest the passage of his vessels up the river. These are our respective duties, and we must dis- charge them." At the close of the interview, Captain Morris returned to the wharf to complete arrangements there, and General Blake entered upon the work of making a dis- position of his forces which numbered about five hundred men. Early in the morning of September i5d the enemy began to move towards the American line of defense. A heavy fog resting upon the river and banks covered his incipient movements. Soon the British regulars emerged from the fog, and moved towards the position held by General Blake. Their firm and regular movement, confi- dent bearing, and imposing uniforms, carried terror to General Blake's undisciplined troops. After an exchange of a few rounds, General Blake's line gave way near the center, which was followed by a general and precipitate retreat. Captain Morris, soon finding his position untenable, spiked his guns, set fire to his vessel, and with his men made his escape to Bangor. It is not necessary to the purpose of this narrative to describe in detail the various acts of "magnanimity" toward those confiding citizens who exhibited such eager 156 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE readiness to throw themselves upon the mercy of an inso- lent and relentless foe. Garland's First Military Company At the beginning of the War of 1812, through the agency of Captain Isaac Hodsdon of Corinth, afterwards widely known as Major General Hodsdon, a company of militia was organized at Garland. Captain Hodsdon was a young man of great military enthusiasm and marked ability, and an ardent supporter of President Madison's administration. The members of the company, over thirty in number, met at the barn of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., and organized by the election of Thomas S. Tyler, captain; Isaac Copeland, lieutenant, and William Blaisdell, ensign. Despite the apparent general acquiescence in the pro- priety of a military company, there was a secret and strong opposition to it that had been quieted by the tact of Captain Hodsdon, but not subdued. The reasons assigned by the opposition were that the isolated position of the town should exempt its citizens from military ser- vice, and that the cost to the members of the company for arms and equipments, added to other burdens of their condition, would be a great hardship. There was, also, a political reason that was at the basis of opposition of some of the citizens. This was opposition to the existing national administration, and to the war then in progress. From the considerations that have been named there resulted a tacit understanding that, at the expiration of the time allowed the officers-elect to decide whether they HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 157 would accept the commissions they had been offered, they would decline them. Such action would make it neces- sary to go over the ground again and involve delay. In defiance of the expectations of the citizens, the officers- elect accepted the commissions tendered them, and the company became a verity. The holding a military office in these days was a distinction that appealed to the pride of the ambitious, and some of the citizens of Garland were uncharitable enough to charge that the honor of military titles was the motive that led the officers-elect to accept commis- sions in violation of promises not to do so. The organization of the company having been effected, its members were called together at regular intervals for inspection and drill. A Midnight Summons The night of September 2d, 1814, was dark and rainy. The citizens of Garland had retired to rest at the usual hour with no suspicion that their slumbers would be disturbed until the light of morning called them to the duties of a new day. At the midnight hour the family of Moses Gordon was awakened by the galloping of a horse into their dooryard, quickly followed by a violent rapping at their door. Promptly presenting himself, Mr. Gordon was confronted by a well-known citizen of Exeter, Jonathan Palmer, whose nervous and excited bearing indicated startling news. The British, he said, having captured Castine were on their way up the Penobscot to capture the frigate 158 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Adams, lying at the wharf at Hampden for repairs, and to make an attack on Bangor. The company in Gar- land must be ordered at once to report forthwith for service at Hampden. A few minutes later, Mr. Gordon was in the saddle riding at the top of the horse's speed to the residence of Captain Tyler, who lived where Thomas McComb now lives. The slumbers of Captain Tyler were as rudely interrupted as had been those of Mr. Gordon a half hour earlier. Mr. Gordon was ordered to warn the company to appear at the residence of Isaac Wheeler forthwith with arms and equipments. Disregarding darkness, rain and rough roads, Mr. Gordon executed Captain Tyler's order with remarkable dispatch. Nearly all the men answered to the roll-call in the morning. Early in the day of September 3d, the company was on its way towards Hampden. Most of the men had provided themselves with horses. The company moved on without special incident until they reached Levant, now Kenduskeag. Here a rumor reached their ears that the enemy had passed Hampden and was in possession of Bangor. But the company moved forward until it reached the foot of the long declivity, now known as the Jameson Hill, where they met a squad of marines from the Adams, who confirmed the rumor. After abandoning the Adams, Captain Morris and his men proceeded directly to Bangor, with the purpose of getting to Portland by the way of the Kennebec. At Bangor, he divided his men into three squads, and as the country between the Penobscot and Kennebec was sparsely settled, he ordered the several squads to go from the one river to the other, by different routes, to insure adequate subsistence on the road. One of these squads came to Kenduskeag, and from this point took a westerly course to the Kennebec River. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 159 It was this squad the Garland company met at the foot of the Jameson Hill, and which confirmed the rumor of the occupation of Hampden and Bangor by the British. As nothing was to be gained by continu- ing the march towards the place of the late conflict, the larger part of the Garland company turned their faces homeward. Individuals of the company, however, pushed on to get a sight of the insolent and hated redcoats. The movements of the marines having for many months been confined to the vessel's deck, some of them had become footsore and lame by their hurried march over the rough roads through the forest. Our men from Garland having heard of the exploits of these marines in the capture of British vessels, were filled with admira- tion for their bravery, and sympathy for their present hardships. It was, therefore, with patriotic satisfaction that they offered these tired marines the use of their horses to carry them to Kenduskeag, where they were to be served with a substantial dinner by Moses Hodsdon, and the horses were to be left for their owners. But the Garland soldiers found to their sorrow that brave men were not always strictly honest. Several of the marines seemed to believe that an extension of their ride was of more consequence to themselves than a good dinner at Hodsdon's, or the fulfillment of their promises to their benefactors. They, therefore, skipped the din- ner and rode on. Moses Gordon was one of the victims of misplaced confidence, and in company with others, he borrowed a horse, and went in pursuit. Darkness soon enveloped the pursuing party, which coming to an old camp in the woods, within the limits of the present town of Stetson, turned in and spent the night. Starting early in the morning, they reached the camp of the fugitives, in the same town, as they were about to 160 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE resume their day's march. Being sharply rebuked for their treachery, they declared with an expression of injured innocence, that they were then exactly where, as they understood it, the horses were to be left. An incident occurred on the return march of the Gar- land company which greatly amused the rank and file. They were moving leisurely along, talking of the excit- ing events of the previous night, and of the morning's march, when suddenly there emerged from the shadows of the heavy forest growth a tall, lean, cadaverous speci- men of humanity, with a high forehead and elongated chin, who approached them, musket in hand, with long and rapid strides. The perspiration was running down his cheeks in streams, and he presented an aspect of fierce determination that boded peril to some invisible foe, whatever the form, or wherever the locality of that foe. He was making his way with such impetuosity that he scarcely slackened his pace to notice the returning soldiers, much less to inquire into the logic of their movement from, instead of towards, his supposed theatre of conflict. But they challenged his attention so sharply that he lingered with ill concealed impatience to hear their explanations, then resuming his march with accel- erated movement, he exclaimed, "I don't care— I will have one shot at the redcoats anyway !" During his parley with the soldiers, he was recognized as a prominent citizen of Exeter, and it should be said that when in normal condition, he was a man of good personal appearance. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 161 Enlistments Not many of the citizens of Garland enlisted in the War of 1812. Simon French, the father of our citizen, the late Eben French, enlisted in one of the two com- panies detached from General Blake's brigade. John Jackman, father of our late citizens, Justus and James Jackman, enlisted in another company of the same brigade. These companies were stationed at Eastport. Mr. Jackman, afterwards known as Captain Jackman, was a man of great size and strength and abounding good nature. In his intercourse with others, he often carried a disputed point by jokes and pleasantries. On one occasion he went to the commissary department with a complaint of the bread ration, when the following colloquy occurred — "What's the matter with the bread?" the officer in charge asked. "It is so dry and hard the men are in danger of breaking their teeth," was the reply. "The men must have poor teeth," said the officer, with an exasperating expression of incredulity. Nothing daunted, Mr. Jackman repeated the complaint in intensified form. "It's so hard," he said, "I can force fire from it with the back of my jack-knife. " "I'd like to see you do it," replied the officer; whereupon a messmate of Mr. Jackman stepped forward with a loaf of the discredited hard bread, and passed it to him. Pulling a huge jack-knife from his pocket, he examined the blade very carefully as well as the loaf, which was to be an important factor in the performance, as if to find whether the conditions were favorable to success. He now commenced the effort to coax sparks from the loaf, but while crumbs rattled over the floor, there were no sparks of fire. The ludicrous performance drew peals of laughter from the waiting crowd. Presently the 162 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE promised sparks began to light up the scene. The laughter became more boisterous, but our Garland soldier was no longer its subject. The sparks that amused the crowd, came from the impingement of the knife upon a gun-flint concealed in the loaf. This was before the invention of the percussion cap. The quality of the bread ration was improved by this incident. Garland in 1815 Town meetings in Garland in 1815 were of frequent occurrence but, to a great extent, barren of results. The division of the town into school districts, the location of schoolhouses and roads, were subjects of perpetual discussion, both in and out of the municipal gatherings. The annual meeting of 1815 was held at the resi- dence of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., on the 13th day of March. Ebenezer Greenleaf was chosen moderator, and Moses Gordon, clerk. The selectmen for the year were Isaac Wheeler, Esq., Benjamin Gilpatrick and Amos Gordon. The same persons were chosen assessors. The Rev. John Sawyer, Isaac Wheeler, Esq., and James Parker were elected superintending school committee. Moses Gordon was chosen collector, his compensation being fixed at five and three fourths per cent. The town voted to raise three hundred dollars for the support of schools; one hundred and twenty-five dollars to defray town charges, and seven hundred dollars to build and repair roads, and to allow twelve and one half cents per hour for labor. A town meeting was held at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq., on November 4th, 1815, "to see what HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 163 measure the town will adopt respecting the division of the county." Previous to this time, Garland had been a constituent part of the county of Hancock. A general movement had been inaugurated to secure the establishment of a new county. Isaac Wheeler, Esq., Ebenezer Greenleaf and John S. Haskell were chosen a committee to petition the Legis- lature of Massachusetts for the proposed division. At this meeting, John S. Haskell, John Chandler, Cutteon Flanders and William Church were appointed tithing men. The appointment of such officials was of regular occurrence in the earlier years of the town's history. Their duty was to preserve good order during divine ser- vice. There being no schoolhouses in town at this date, and the persons named residing in different sections, would seem to indicate that religious meetings were held at private houses or in open air at different parts. The sixth and last town meeting of 1815 was held on the 25th of November, at the residence of Isaac Wheeler, Esq. The inhabitants came together to make one more effort to harmonize differences respecting the location and building of schoolhouses, but without practical result. Garland in 1816 Petition for a New State The sentiment in the Province of Maine in favor of receding from the Mother State had been gaining strength from the beginning of the War of 1812, and took the form of organized action in 1816. In his history of Maine, Mr. Williamson informs us that early 164 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE in the year of 1816, forty-nine towns in the District of Maine petitioned for separation in their corporate capaci- ties, and that there were petitions from individuals in about as many more towns for the same object. On the 18th of January the legal voters of Garland in town meeting assembled, passed the following vote: "That the town petition the Legislature for a separation of the District of Maine from the State of Massachu- setts, and for its erection into an independent state.'' The selectmen and town clerk were instructed to sign the petition in behalf of the town. It may fairly be inferred that Garland was one of the forty-nine towns alluded to by Mr. Williamson as voting for separation. Influenced by these petitions from nearly one half of the incorporated towns of the district, the Legislature of Massachusetts sought a fuller expression of sentiment upon the question of separation. In furtherance of this purpose, it directed that meetings be held in all the towns and plantations in the district, on the 20th of May, and that the voice of the legal voters should be taken on the following question : "Shall the Legislature be requested to give its consent to the separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts, and the erection of said district into a separate state?" On this question the legal voters of Garland voted as follows: For separation, twenty-six; against separation, five. While the general result in the district showed that a decisive majority of those who voted favored separation, only a minority of voters gave in their vote. This result dis- appointed the Separationists. Nevertheless, a law was passed by the Legislature, prescribing the conditions of separation, and directing that the legal voters of the towns and plantations should assemble on the first Mon- day in September and give their yeas and nays upon the following question : ' 'Is it expedient that the District HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 165 of Maine be separated from Massachusetts and become an independents tate?" The result in Garland was: For separation, twenty-six ; against separation, eight. The general result showed a majority in favor of separation, but this majority was much smaller than required by the law which governed the proceedings.. Thus the measure was, for a time, defeated. Change of Place *.-> Until the year 1816, the meetings for town business had been held at private houses, generally at the house of Isaac Wheeler, Esq. Religious meetings had been held at private houses, or in the awe-inspiring shadows of the grand old forest. In the year 1816, the town meeting was held in the schoolhouse, afterwards known as the Center schoolhouse in town. It emerged from clouds of opposition, dis- putation and declamation. It was the first schoolhouse in town, and having been built for certain special pur- poses, other than schools, it was larger than any house of the kind in town until the village schoolhouse was built thirty-seven years later. It was located in a dense forest, at the nominal center of the town. To the early inhabitants, the old Center schoolhouse never ceased to be an object of interest. There they often met to discuss and perfect measures for the benefit of themselves and children. There they went to deposit the ballot which, though "a weapon that comes down as still as snowflakes fall upon the sod," was yet a factor in determining whether they should be blessed with the kindly influences of intelli- 166 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE gent and conscientious statesmanship, or cursed with malignant and incompetent partisanship. There they sent their children to be instructed in the rudiments of knowledge that they might be prepared to act well their parts in the drama of life. There they met for religious conference and worship, ere yet they were favored by the regular and more public ministrations of the pulpit. There the first settled minister, Rev. Isaac Wilkins, having been called by vote of the town, labored faithfully for a period of five years to promote the moral and spiritual welfare of the people. Annual Town Meeting of 1816 The annual meeting for municipal business in 1816, was held March 14, in Garland's first public building, the Center schoolhouse, which was still in an unfinished condition. The meeting was organized by the choice of Ebenezer Greenleaf for moderator, and Moses Gordon, town clerk. Josiah Bartlett, Benjamin Gilpatrick and Ebenezer Greenleaf were chosen selectmen and assessors. Thomas Gilpatrick was chosen treasurer and Philip Greeley, collector. His compensation was fixed at three and one half per cent. Isaac Wheeler, Abner Sanborn and Moses Buzzell were chosen superintending school committee. It was voted to raise five hundred dollars to build and repair highways, three hundred dollars to support schools, one hundred and fifty dollars to defray town charges and fif- teen dollars to buy powder and balls. It was voted that all taxes, except the highwa}r tax, should be paid in grain, wheat at one dollar and fifty cents, corn at one HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 167 dollar and twenty-five cents, and rye at one dollar and ten cents per bushel. The second meeting of 1816 was held on the 12th of April for the transaction of some unimportant town business. In the afternoon of the same day the citizens deposited their votes for governor, lieutenant governor, senators and councilors. The vote for governor was: For Hon. Samuel Dexter, twenty-four; for Hon. John Brooks, fifteen. In this election Mr. Brooks was elected as the succes- sor of Governor Strong. Another town meeting was held on April 20th to transact business relative to the building of schoolhouses and the making of roads. A New County To the citizens of Garland and of this section of the Province of Maine, the year 1816 was the beginning of a new epoch. Until 1816, Garland had been a part of Hancock County, a section of country extending from the Penobscot Bay on the south, to the utmost northern limits of the State. It embraced territory nearly as large as one third of the present State of Maine, and larger than the present State of Massachusetts. Castine was its shire town, although Bangor had been constituted a half shire town years earlier, and a registry of deeds had been established there, still all court business was transacted at Castine, which was so remote from the extreme northern settlements of the county that the inhabitants of these distant settlements were subjected to serious inconvenience when required to attend court. A movement had been made a vear earlier for the 168 establishment of a new county, many petitions having been sent to the Legislature of Massachusetts in further- ance of the object. Garland was one of the towns that petitioned. In response to these petitions, the Legis- lature of Massachusetts passed an act on February 15th, 1816, to incorporate the county of Penobscot, which provided that it should take effect on the first day of April, 1816. Bangor was made the shire town of the new county. The existence of a new county created the necessity for new offices and officers to fill them. With the exception of registrar of deeds, these officers were to be appointed by the governor. He was to be elected by the towns of the new county. The legal voters of Garland assembled on the 27th of May and voted as follows : For John Wilkins, eight votes; for Charles Rice, one vote. Mr. Wilkins was elected registrar by an almost unani- mous vote. The legal voters of Garland assembled at the Center schoolhouse on November 4, 1816, to vote for represent- ative to Congress. Hon. Martin Hinsley received fourteen votes. Hon. John Wilson received nine votes. The Year Without a Summer The year 1816 has been aptly characterized as the year without a summer. Several of the preceding sum- mers were so cold as to suggest a possible future famine. This tendency to frigidity reached its greatest intensity HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 169 in the summer of 1816. The phenomenal coldness of that year was not confined to a small area. It prevailed through the United States and Canada and extended to Europe. That there were reasons for alarm, especially in the new settlements of eastern Maine, already impoverished by untoward events extending through several years, will be understood by a perusal of the fol- lowing graphic account from a reliable source : "The year 1816 was known throughout the United States and Europe as the coldest ever experienced by any person then living. Very few persons now living can recollect it. The following is a brief summary of the weather during each month of that year: January was so mild as to render fires almost unnecessary in parlors. February, with the exception of a few days, was like its predecessor. March was cold and boisterous during the early part of the month. The latter part was mild. April began warm but grew colder as the month advanced. May was more remarkable for frowns than smiles. Buds and fruits were frozen. Ice formed half an inch thick. Corn was killed and again planted and replanted so long as there was the slightest prospect of success. June was the coldest ever known in this lati- tude. Frost and ice were common. Almost every green thing, including fruit, was destroyed. Snow fell to the depth of seven inches in Vermont and Maine, three in the interior of New York and Massachusetts. There were a few warm days in June. It was called a dry season. The wind, fierce and cold, blew steadily from the north. Mothers knit extra socks and mittens for their children in the spring. Wood-piles were renewed. Planting and shivering went on together. Farmers worked out their taxes on the roads in overcoats and mittens. In Vermont, a farmer had driven his sheep to pasture some miles awav at the usual time. On the 7th 170 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE of June there was a heav}^ fall of snow. The cold being severe, the owner went to look after them. As he left the house he said sportively to his wife, 'It being June, if I do not return in a reasonable time send the neighbors after me. ' Night came, the storm had increased, and he was still absent. "The next morning the neighbors were alarmed and started in search of the missing man. On the morning of the third day, he was found with his feet badly frozen and unable to walk. "July was accompanied by frost and ice. On the 5th, ice of the thickness of common window-glass was found throughout New England, New York and some parts of Pennsylvania. Indian corn was nearly all destroyed except on elevated lands. August was more cheerless than the earlier summer months. Nearly all the corn that had escaped thus far was so badly frozen that it was cut for fodder. September furnished about two weeks of the mildest weather of the season. ' 'October produced more than its share of cold weather. November was cold and brought snow and sleighing. In marked contrast with the preceding months of 1816, December was mild and comfortable. Such is the sum- maiy of the general weather conditions of the phenome- nal year of 1816." To us, who are at a remove of eighty years from that phenomenal year, the foregoing description may seem to have been inspired by a spirit of unrestrained exagger- ation, but it is confirmed by the traditions of the experi- ence of the early inhabitants of central Maine. In his Annals of Bangor, Judge John E. Godfrey says : ' 'The season was remarkable for the low state of the thermometer. In June the cold was severe. It snowed the seventh and eighth. Water froze for several nights, and on the 10th, the ice over puddles would bear HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 171 a man. Great numbers of birds were so benumbed that they could be readily taken in the hand, and many perished. ' ' The Rev. Amasa Loring, in his history of Piscataquis County, says of the year 1816 : "On the 29th and 30th days of May, snow fell to the depth of five inches. From the sixth to the tenth of June there were frequent snow squalls, and every morning the surface of the ground was found frozen. Every month during the sum- mer frost was visible. On the sixth of October, three inches of snow fell. No corn was raised this year in any part of northern New England. Early rye and wheat ripened, but were much pinched, and potatoes came in light and watery." Garland in the Cold Year The almost total failure of crops in the fateful year of 1816 put the faith of the inhabitants of Garland in their ability to maintain their foothold upon the lands where they had toiled many a weary year to make homes for themselves and their growing families, to a severe test. Previous to the year 1816 they had been sorely buf- feted by adverse circumstances, and now, when they had reached the threshold of what seemed a brighter future, this disastrous year came to them with crushing force. Many of them were carrying a burden of debt incurred in the purchase of their lands, which they were bravely striving to pay. A typical case was that of Moses Gordon. In the year 1815 he had felled ten acres of trees, partly on the 172 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE land now owned and occupied by his son Albert, and partly upon the Murdock place, with the purpose and expectation of reducing his debt. The conditions of exposure to the sun and soil favored an abundant crop. The early spring months had passed, and the calendar indicated the advent of the corn-plant- ing season, but there was nothing in the atmospheric conditions to suggest the presence of that usually joyous season ; nothing to inspire courage, confidence or hope. Planting was postponed from time to time for the hoped for favorable change which failed to come. At length in sheer desperation, with the assistance of several neighbors, Mr. Gordon commenced the work of planting. It was now well along in June, the month in which— ' 'If ever come perfect days. * ' But instead of sunshine and warmth, there were snow-squalls and frosts almost daily. Men were obliged to resume their winter cloth- ing. The summer passed, and harvest time came, but it brought disappointment instead of corn. The value of the entire crop of corn harvested was not equal to that of the seed planted. The same dis- astrous results came to nearly all the farmers who attempted to raise corn. There is a tradition, however, that William Godwin raised a crop of corn in 1816, on an elevated farm, a little east of the present residence of Charles Greeley, formerly known as the Calef or Cram farm. Perpetual breezes over the hilltop kept the grow- ing corn almost constantly in motion, thus resisting the action of the frost, and allowing the crop to grow and ripen. While the corn crop was virtually a failure in Gar- land, crops of wheat, rye and potatoes, were partially successful, but wheat and rye were much pinched, and potatoes were small and watery. The inhabitants of this region were greatly perplexed with the question of a HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 17-S food supply until the crops of 1817 should ripen, if, indeed, the unborn year should prove more fruitful than the present. Forest, lake and stream could be depended on for the usual supply of game and fish, but beyond these the prospect was not inspiring. 'But expedients were at hand. Mashed potatoes and pumpkins were mixed with flour, corn and rye meal to increase the quantity of bread supply. Potatoes and pumpkins in milk was an esteemed dish. Clover heads stewed in butter often took the place of more nutritious food. Fields and thickets were scanned for berries. Incidents From the Diary of Stephen A. Berry In 1816, Stephen A. Berry, then a boy of ten years, was living with his parents in New Durham, N. H. The hardships of the family are typical of those that were common throughout New England. Mr. Berry says that the years 1815-16-17, constituted a period of privation and hardship without a parallel within the memories of the oldest inhabitants then living. The year 1816 was the most memorable of these. On the 7th of June snow fell to the depth of seven inches. No corn ripened sufficiently for seed, and as an article of food, it was very near an entire failure. Wheat was but little used for food. Machinery for grinding it was very imperfect, and the methods of pre- paring it for the table were very crude. Rye and corn meal were much more highly esteemed. The crop of rye in 1816, while light, was not an 174 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE entire failure. Mr. Berry relates an incident of his own experience. In the vicinity of his home, there lived a Mr. Ela, a wealthy farmer, who had raised a large field of rye. After the rye had been harvested with great care, Mr. Berry, then ten years old, obtained permission to glean the scattered heads, and with the assistance of a sister, older than himself, entered upon the work with zeal and courage. At the end of several days' diligent labor, the young gleaners bore the gathered heads of rye in triumph to their home. Aided by their good mother, they soon relieved the heads of their treasures. Breezes from the hilltops separated the chaff from the grain. The reward of their youthful toil was eight quarts of rye which the boy Stephen bore to the mill a mile from home, and soon returned with the meal which quickly took the form of bread, and the family sat down to a "square meal" for the first time in several days. Mr. Berry says he does not remember whether there was other food before the family on that occasion, but he does remember that there was bread and a plenty of it, and that no achievement of his subsequent life gave him more satisfaction than this. Later in the season the Berry family arose early one morning to find there was not a mouthful of food in the larder. The father quickly summoned his two sons: Ira, who was afterwards for many years a prominent citizen of Portland, and Stephen. The three went to the river at a short distance from the house, where they unexpectedly found an abundance of fish ready to take the bait upon their hooks. After fishing for a brief time, a sudden shower of rain came upon them, when the fish instantly disappeared in the deep water, whereupon Stephen quaintly remarked that this must have been done to avoid getting wet. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 175 The breakfast that followed was characterized by abun- dance rather than variety. Garland in 1817 To the inhabitants of Garland, the year 1817 opened with gloomy forebodings. The struggle for bread that had characterized the year just closed, must of necessity be intensified until the harvest of 1817 would, perchance, bring relief. Each year, . following the year 1813 down to that of 1816, had been more unfruitful than the preceding year. This engendered the apprehension that the year to follow might be more disastrous to growing crops than the year that had just closed. In looking forward, it is not strange that the disheartened people indulged in serious questionings of the future. Was the sun losing its warmth? Would the seasons continue to grow colder? Had Providence designed this cold region for the habitat of wild animals instead of the home of civilization? Would the harvest of the new year bring relief? Will the best twelve or fifteen vears of our brief lives, which have been devoted to the work of making homes in this eastern wilderness, years of struggle, hardship, privation, and severe toil, count for naught in the battle of life? And after all, shall we be compelled to abandon all our earthly possessions here and fly from the ills we now endure to those we know not of? The early months of 1817 were not reassuring. January and February were intensely cold. The spring months were very chill}'. They failed to dispel the clouds that had so long hung dark and heavy over the people. 176 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE A Cheering Change The month of July brought a cheering change to the desponding dwellers of this region. The sun resumed its wonted power over vegetation. Alternations of sun- shine and rain were followed by a remarkable change of the growing crops. Autumn made its advent laden with an abundant crop of grain. The protracted period of despondency now gave place to courage and hope. An incident of the spring, summer, and autumn of 1817 was the presence of an innumerable multitude of wild pigeons. They flew through the air in clouds, often obscuring the light of the sun. They infested fields of grain doing much damage. Although esteemed as an article of food, they were caught in such numbers that bushels of them were thrown to the hogs. Forty to fifty dozen was not an uncommon catch in a single day by a single individual. Friends in Need The early inhabitants of Garland held many of the business men of Bangor in grateful remembrance to the latest hours of their lives for the kindly forbearance and encouragement received at their hands in the time of their direful extremity. Those of our people whose indebtedness was to be paid in farm produce, were generously granted such extension of time as their necessities required. If, per- chance, any of them had a surplus of grain to turn over to their creditors, they were allowed to retain it for their HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 177 own, or their neighbor's use, until more propitious seasons should afford more abundant means of payment. Seed was generously offered to those who would promise to put it into the ground, to be paid for at the convenience of those accepting the offer. Conspicuous among these helpful friends was William Emerson, the following tribute to whose personal qualities was cut from a Bangor paper: "Mr. Emerson gained a fine reputation in those days (1816 and 1817) by his tender and benevolent treatment of the poor and, in fact, of all who needed his assistance. He never took advantage of sudden rises in prices of articles of food or clothing. He took pains to secure a plenty of seed for the farmers, at prices, and on terms of credit that suited their circumstances, and in manv ways tried to lessen the burdens of his less fortunate or less thoughtful neighbors. ' ' This sketch of the considerate and unselfish acts of Mr. Emerson harmonizes with traditions from the early inhabitants of Garland, and it is fitting that a record of such acts should find a place in the annals of the town of Garland. The Annual Meeting of 1817 The annual town meeting of 1817 was held March 19 at the Center schoolhouse. Josiah Bartlett was chosen moderator, and Isaac Wheeler, town clerk. Isaac Wheeler, Philip Greeley and Benjamin Gilpatrick were chosen selectmen and assessors. The selectmen were chosen superintending school committee. Thomas Gilpatrick, Jr., was chosen treasurer, and Philip 178 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Greeley, collector of taxes, whose compensation was fixed at three and three fourths per cent. It was voted to raise one hundred and seventy-five dollars for the support of schools ; eight hundred dollars to make and repair highways, and one hundred and fifty dollars to defray town charges. At the same meeting, the town voted to use the money that had been voted for schools to defray town charges. This vote left the schools without appropriation. At a subsequent meet- ing, it was voted that one hundred and fifty dollars of the sum voted for town charges, at the previous meeting, should be expended for schools. The people of the town were still working at cross purposes respecting school districts and schools. A second town meeting was held on April 7th at the Center schoolhouse. The main object of this meeting- was the consideration of matters pertaining to roads. It was voted to allow twelve and one half cents per hour for the labor of men and oxen, and for the use of plows, and eight cents for carts while in use. The First County Road The year 1817 made a new epoch in the history of roads. Heretofore roads had been located and built by the town almost exclusively with reference to the require- ments and convenience of its own citizens. The time had now come when its necessities and convenience must, to a certain extent, be considered with reference to its relation to other towns. A county road extending from Bangor to the present count}' of Piscataquis, through the towns of Glenburn, Kenduskeag, Corinth, MAINE 179 Garland and Sangerville, towards Moosehead Lake, had been projected. This road is now known as "the old County road'" and the section of it within the limits of Garland was about seven miles in length. At its second town meeting of 1817, held April 7th, the town voted to expend three hundred dollars of the eight hundred dollars that had been voted at the annual meeting upon the section of the county road between Church's mills and the south line of the town. It also voted to allow for the travel of men and oxen to and from their work, on the above named section, six cents per mile. This allowance was limited to men living north of Church's mills, while the allowance to laborers south of the mills was four cents per mile. At a town meeting held on the 7th of October, 1817, it was voted that every citizen of Garland who pays a poll tax should work one day on the county road north of the late residence of Enoch Jackman. The site of this residence was near the place where the original county road intersected the present county road to Sangerville, a little north of the present residence of Henry Merrill. A year later the town voted to raise twelve hundred dollars to build and repair highways, and that one half this sum should be expended on the county road. The building of the first county road was a severe burden upon the inhabitants of the town. Ballot for Governor in 1817 On April 7th, the town balloted for governor with result as follows: Hon. John Brooks received fourteen votes; Hon. Henry Dearborn received sixteen votes. 180 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Garland in 1818 The annual meeting of 1818 was held March 14th. The officers chosen were Isaac Wheeler, Esq., town clerk; Benjamin Gilpatrick, John Trefethen and Abner Sanborn, selectmen and assessors; Ezekiel Straw, treas- urer; Philip Greeley, collector of taxes, whose compen- sation was fixed at two and three fourths per cent. Ezekiel Straw, Edward Fifield and John Trefethen were chosen superintending school committee. On the 6th day of April, a town meeting was held for the transaction of important business which had been omitted at the annual town meeting. No money had been voted at this meeting for any purpose. It may safely be assumed that the omission was due to a bitter division of sentiment upon questions pertaining to schools and roads. At the meeting of April 6th, the- town voted to raise twelve hundred dollars to make and repair highways, one half of this sum to be expended on the county road, and the balance on other roads of the town. It was voted to raise three hundred dollars for the support of schools, one hundred dollars for the support of the poor, twenty-three dollars to purchase powder (presumably to make a noise on muster day) and seventy- five dollars to defray town charges. There is no record of the raising of money for the support of the poor until the year 1818. Until this year (1818) it had been the policy of the town to have all taxes, except the road tax, paid in grain at prices fixed each year by vote. This year it was voted that taxes, except the road tax, should be paid one half in money and one half in grain, wheat at one dollar and fifty cents, rye at one dollar per bushel, pro- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 181 vided that these grains should be delivered to the treas- urer by the first day of February, 1819, otherwise the whole tax, except the road tax, must be paid in money. The Town's Treasury Boxes When in 1850, our late citizen, Ezekiel Straw, who had been treasurer of the town in 1818, transferred his farm to George A. Brann, the latter found grain bins in an out-building which in size were greatly dispropor- tionate to the requirements of the farm. Asking an explanation of the former owner, he was informed that they had been provided for storing the town's grain received in payment of taxes. The acceptance of grain by the town in payment of taxes will explain the large percentage paid from year to year for the collection of taxes. Vote for Governor in 1818 The legal voters of Garland balloted for governor on April 6, with result as follows: For Hon. Benjamin Crowningshield, Anti Federalist, nineteen votes ; for Hon. John Brooks, Federalist, twelve votes. A town meeting, held November 2, 1818, only em- phasized the bitter disagreements upon the question of schoolhouses. 182 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The Ohio Fever The impoverished condition of many of the citizens of the Province of Maine, superinduced by the adverse effects of the War of 1812, and intensified by the failure of crops in 1816, was followed by an emigration from the State to the West, estimated at from ten to fifteen thousand people. This demoralized sentiment was called the "Ohio fever." While some of the towns of the Province suffered severely by the loss of citizens from this cause, the loss to Garland was slight. A Favorable Season In contrast with several seasons preceding that of 1817, the year 1818 was characterized by a summer remarkably favorable for the growth of vegetation. The crops of grain were abundant. The "Ohio fever" had spent its force, and the tide of emigration had begun to set towards Maine. A Revival of the Military Spirit The autumn of 1818 witnessed a military gathering at Bangor which for enthusiastic interest has never, in time of peace, had a parallel in Penobscot County. The mortification engendered by the feeble opposition to the passage of the British ships and troops past Hampden to Bangor towards the close of the War of 1812, and the HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 183 tame surrender of those places had rankled in the bosoms of the inhabitants of Penobscot vallev. Young, ambitious, and rising military officers of the time, who had not participated in the Hampden affair, believed that special efforts to improve the morals of the militia were imperatively demanded. Arrangements for a muster of the troops in large numbers at Bangor followed. The ardor of the younger officers, conspicuous among whom was Colonel Isaac Hodsdon of Corinth, in evoking the necessary enthusiasm from the people, was commen- surate with the importance of the end in view. The date fixed for the proposed military assemblage was September 21st. At length the impatiently awaited day dawned. At an early hour the third, fourth, and fifth regiments of the first brigade, embracing thirty companies, took the places assigned them on the ample field selected for the review. In the absence of the Brigadier General, the command devolved on Colonel Hodsdon. The large cavalcade of officers, dressed in gay uniforms, on spirited horses, the stirring music, waving flags, rattle of musketry, roar of cannon, and the evolu- tions of the soldiery, drew forth the wildest enthusiasm from the crowds of people in attendance. The interest of the occasion was greatly enhanced by the presence of Governor Brooks, who reviewed the troops and expressed his warm approval of the success of this notable demonstration. The Garland company of militia was present under the command of Captain Philip Greeley. 184 The First Post-Office Previous to the year 1818, through a period of six- teen years, the nearest post-office had been at Bangor which was twenty-five miles away. During that period mail matter for the inhabitants of Garland was sent from the Bangor office by any reliable person of the town, who happened to be in Bangor, and left with some resident of Garland, who esteemed it a pleasure to distrib- ute it to the scattered homes as opportunity occurred. A mail route extending from Bangor, through Gar- land, to Skowhegan having been established, a post- office was located at the house of William Godwin, who resided on the road to Dexter, opposite the site of Maple Grove Cemetery, in the year 1818, and Mr. Godwin was appointed postmaster. A Mr. Hayden of Skowhegan was the first mail-carrier over this route. His stopping place at the end of the first day's travel from Bangor was at Isaac Hopland's, where Mark C. Jennings now resides. The mail was carried on horseback for the first few years. This service involved hardship and, not infre- quently, serious danger. During the spring and autumnal freshets, the corduroy bridges over low and swampy lands were often transformed into floating bridges of a dangerous character. Bridges over small streams would sometimes float away in the interim between trips. Mr. Hayden's contract expired in 1822. He was followed, as contractor, by Colin Campbell of Corinth, and Calvin Osgood, after- wards a citizen of Garland, to carry the mail. Mr. Eddy, who commenced service as mail-carrier in 1822, communicates the following information respect- ing the circuit he traveled to get the mail to the offices HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 185 upon his route. Starting from Bangor, he passed through the present towns of Glenburn, Kenduskeag, West Corinth, Exeter, Garland, Dexter, Ripley, Har- mony, Athens and Cornville, to the objective point, Skowhegan. On his return, he passed through the towns of Canaan, Pittsfield, Hartland, St. Albans, Palmyra, Newport, Etna, Carmel and Hampden, to Bangor. Some sections of the return route from Skowhegan must have been of a somewhat zigzag character. Mr. Eddy gives the names of the postmasters upon his route in 1822 as follows: Mark Trafton at Bangor, Moses Hodsdon at Kenduskeag, Richard Palmer at West Corinth, Reuben Bartlett at Garland, Dr. Gilman Burleigh at Dexter, John Todd at Ripley, Mr. Bartlett at Harmony, John Ware at Athens, Thomas Smith at Cornville, John Wyman at Skowhegan, Mr. Tuttle at Canaan, Mr. Foss at St. Albans, now Hartland, Dr. French at North St. Albans, William Lancey at Pal- myra, Mr. Sanger at Newport, Hollis Friend at Etna, Deacon Ruggles at Carmel, Mr. Stetson at Hampden Corner and Mr. Vose at Hampden Upper Corner. The adventurous mail-carriers had their regular stop- ping places where they rested at night, except when delayed by stress of weather, bad condition of roads, or accident, when they stopped wherever night overtook them. At the close of Mr. Campbell's term of service, in 1826, the roads had been so much improved as to admit of the use of a two-horse covered carriage for carrying the mail and passengers. This was a step forward in the march of improvement which was highly pleasing to the early inhabitants. Lawrence Greene of Dexter now began to carry the mail, and passengers, from Bangor to Dexter. 186 Among Mr. Greene's passengers there would appear occasionally one or more of the dusky inhabitants of Indian Old Town. It was a great marvel to the small boy, who cast a frightened look into the carriage, that Mr. Greene should dare to carry representatives of a race whose history had been so long and closely associated with the tomahawk and scalping-knife. About the vear 1880 the mail-route was changed. Diverging from the original route at Corinth, it ran by way of Exeter Mills and Exeter Corner to Dexter. From this time onward, Garland was supplied with mail matter from the Exeter Corner office. This change was followed by serious inconvenience to the residents of Garland for many }^ears. If the mail-carrier made his appearance at the Garland office on the day he was due, he regarded himself at liberty to fix the hour to suit his own convenience. He was sometimes a day late as a matter of convenience to himself. On one such occasion the mail had been changed and the carrier had started along, when the postmaster, Dr. Joseph Springall, rushed out into the street, bare- headed, as if some sudden thought had inspired the movement, and with characteristic humor exclaimed — "Halloo, young man! Say, when are you coming this way again?" Garland in 1819 The annual meeting of 1819 was held on March 16. The officers chosen were Philip Greeley, moderator; Isaac Wheeler, clerk ; Isaac Wheeler, Josiah Bartlett and Ezekiel Straw, selectmen and assessors; Isaac HISTOKY OF GARLAND, MAINE 187 Wheeler, Moses Buswell and Josiah Bartlett, superin- tending- school committee; John Chandler, collector, with a compensation of one per cent. , and Ezekiel Straw, treasurer. The town voted to raise four hundred dollars for schools; one thousand dollars to build and repair roads, and eleven dollars and fifty cents to erect guide-boards. A second town meeting was held on April 5th, to act upon various matters of business, but nothing of impor- tance resulted. On the same day a vote for governor was taken when Hon. John Brooks, Federalist, received thirteen votes; Hon. Benj. Crowningshield, Democrat, received nineteen votes. A third town meeting was held on April 17, when the town voted that one half of the sum voted at the annual meeting for support of schools, also the seventy-five dol- lars voted for town charges, might be paid in wheat at one dollar and fifty cents, corn at one dollar and twenty- five cents, and rye at one dollar per bushel, if delivered to the treasurer by the first day of February. The most severe burden resting upon the early inhabi- tants of Garland was the construction and repair of roads. The original withholding of every alternate range of land from sale, had necessitated a large mileage of roads. The incoming of new settlers from year to vear increased the burden of road building. In addition to roads for local convenience, a county road running obliquely across the town, which had been established in 1817, had increased the burden of road building. In the years of 1817 and 1818, the town had taxed its inhabitants to the extent of their ability to pay, towards the construction of the county road. But the public was not satisfied with the progress made, and the town was indicted. A fourth town meeting was held on the 188 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 4th of May to consider the method of dealing with the indictment, when it was voted that four hundred dollars of the one thousand dollars, raised at the annual meeting for building and repairing roads, should be expended on the county road, and that three hundred dollars, in addition, should be raised by assessment. John S. Haskell was appointed agent to answer to the indictment upon the road. Philip Greeley and William Godwin were appointed to superintend the labor upon this road. On the 26th of July the legal voters of Garland assembled to act upon the following question: "Is it expedient that the District of Maine shall become a separate and independent State on the terms and con- ditions of an Act entitled an Act relating to the Sepa- ration of the District of Maine from Massachusetts proper, and forming the same into an independent State?" The number of votes cast was twenty-four which were all in favor of separation. In the State the majority in favor of separation was very large. The act submitting the question of separation to the people of the Province of Maine, provided that if a majority of fifteen hundred should be given for separa- tion, the Governor was to make proclamation of the result on, or after, the fourth Monday of August, 1819. This Act also provided that each corporate town should be empowered to send at least one delegate to a conven- tion to be held in Portland, on the second Monday in October, to form a constitution. The legal voters of Garland assembled on the 20th day of September to choose a delegate to the constitu- tional convention with result as follows : Amos Gordon received eighteen votes; Abner Sanborn received ten votes; Moses Buswell received five votes. At the appointed time Mr. Gordon was found in his HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 189 seat at the convention. The legal voters of Garland were called together on the 6th day of December for the purpose of expressing their approbation or disap- probation of the constitution emanating from the con- vention. The votes, fifteen in number, were all in favor of the constitution as reported from the convention. An application in due form was made to Congress, for the admission of Maine to the Union, and on the third day of March, 1820, it was admitted to the Union by an act to take effect March 15, 1820. From this date, the Province of Maine, which, in the language of Governor Brooks, had been bone of the bone and flesh of the flesh of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, became an independent State. Whatever Maine has been in the past, whatever she is now, or whatever she may become, it is certain that no state can boast of a more illustrious or better parentage than Maine. An incident of the constitutional convention was a somewhat sharp discussion of the question, "Shall the new state be styled the State of Maine or the Common- wealth of Maine?" Fortunately, the good sense of the convention led to the shorter and simpler designation. Garland From 1810 to 1820 The population in the second decade increased but slightly. In 1810 it was 236. Ten years later, it was 275, an increase of only 39. While the roads had been somewhat extended and improved, and school facilities somewhat enlarged, the condition of the average family had not improved. The poor had been growing poorer, 190 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE and the debts of the more independent had been increas- ing. A few families had moved into town, a larger number had moved away. Among those who had cast their fortune in the town in the second decade was the familv of Plvnn Clark, which settled upon the place now owned by Leonard Hathaway. Simon Morgan, from Elkinstown, moved into town in 1811 or 1812, and occupied the place vacated by Mr. Griffin, the first tanner, which was located at the foot of the slope west of the residence of David Dearborn. The Rev. John Sawyer came into the township as a mis- sionary before its incorporation, and purchased the lot of land on the hill where D. F. Patten resides, and built a house about the year 1813, where he lived with his family for several years. David Crowell lived for a short time on the place a little west of the schoolhouse, in District No. 7, now owned by David Allen. He was afterwards a well known citizen of Exeter. He left Garland about the year 1818. Philip E. Badger moved into West Garland in 1818, or a year later, and occupied the place where the Lawrence family afterwards resided for many years. Ellery Stone is now the owner of the same place. Families Who Moved Away During the Second Decade Nathan Merrill, the carpenter and spinning-wheel maker, left Garland in 1810 or 1811, and took up resi- dence in Charleston in 1811. The families of William Dustin, John Grant, Andrew Kimball, William Sargent, HISTOKY OF GARLAND, MAINE 191 James McLure and William Church, left the town in the period including the years of 1814-15-16 and 17. Most of these families emigrated to Ohio, allured thither by glowing descriptions of the productiveness of the soil of that state. Many of these families suffered keenly the discomforts of homesickness but, alas, they were too poor to return. An emigrant to Ohio from Exeter wrote to a friend he had left behind that his wife had shed tears of home- sickness enough to grind a bushel of wet corn. While extravagant descriptions of the advantages of western life promoted emigration thereto, repellent influences here contributed to the same result. In addi- tion to the ordinary hardships of pioneer life, the people of these eastern towns had been subjected to extraordi- nary hardships that followed in the wake of the War of 1812. The interruption of commerce by the Embargo Act had been a severe blow to the whole country. Near the close of the war, navigation between Boston and Bangor had been suspended. Goods from the former to the latter place wrere hauled by ox-teams. Our citizen, William Stone, is the possessor of an axle-tree that was a part of a wagon that had been used in the transportation of goods from Boston to Bangor. Another citizen, the late Captain John Jackman, assisted in forging this axle-tree. The war had closed in 1814, but scarcely had the blessings of peace dawned upon the inhabitants, when the cold seasons of 1814-15 intervened to cut off the food supply. Causes other than those that have been mentioned tended to the decrease of population. There are in almost every community, families who are the victims of an everpresent desire for change of place. Wherever they are, they long to be somewhere else. This longing for change is contagious, sometimes infect- 192 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE ing whole neighborhoods. Families are sometimes influ- enced to a change of residence by an existing special cause. The emigration of Enos Quimby, one of the early settlers, from Garland, was due to a special cause. The locality of his home was infested by innumerable swarms of mosquitoes at certain seasons. They rushed into his unprotected dwelling in clouds. The dire discord of their music coupled with their thirst for blood, disturbed the peace of mind of Mrs. Quimby by day, and her dreams by night. Patiently enduring the annoyance until patience ceased to be a virtue, she declared that she could not and would not submit to it longer. She carried her point, and the family sought a new home in another locality. It was a fine illustration of the force of a woman's will as described in an old couplet — "When she will she will you may depend on't, When she won't she won't and that's the end on't." It must not be inferred however that Mrs. Quimby lacked courage to meet the ordinary discomforts of pioneer life. These she could laugh at. The mosquito scourge was quite another thing. It is said that pas- sengers are sometimes driven from boats on the lower Mississippi by the swarms of voracious mosquitoes that infest its banks ; that the boldest rider upon the fastest horse dares not in the month of June encounter these blood-thirsty pests on the rank and fertile prairies of northern Minnesota. They have been known to demor- alize brigades of soldiers on the march from point to point. Maine's former historian, Mr. Williamson, estimated that Maine lost from ten thousand to fifteen thousand inhabitants in consequence of the War of 1812, and the cold seasons of 1814-15 and 1816. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 198 Garland in 1820 The annual meeting of 1820 was held on the 23d day of March. The warrant calling this meeting was the last issued in the name of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts. The following officers were elected: Philip Greeley, moderator; Isaac Wheeler, clerk; Isaac Wheeler, Josiah Bartlett, and Ezekiel Straw, selectmen and assessors; Ezekiel Straw, treasurer, and James J. Chandler, collector of taxes, whose compensation was fixed at two and one fourth per cent. It was voted to raise one thousand dollars for making and repairing highways, and that for men, oxen, and plows, twelve and one half cents should be allowed per hour, until the first of October. It was voted to raise two hundred dollars for making paths in winter, and to allow the same per hour for the labor of men and oxen as in summer. The town voted that taxes assessed for support of schools and for town charges, may be paid in wheat at nine shillings, or in corn or rye at six shillings per bushel, if delivered to the treasurer by the 20th day of January, but if not delivered at that time, must be paid in money. On the 3d of April, 1820, the legal voters were called together to vote for governor and other officers. All previous calls had been issued in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This, and all subse- quent calls, have been issued in the name of the State of Maine which, if less pretentious than the high sounding title by which they had been called to the discharge of their political duties, it had the merit of being more compact, more convenient, and more in harmony with republican simplicity. 194 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAFNE In the convention at Portland a year earlier, to frame a constitution for the new State, the committee which had been appointed to consider the question of title, reported in favor of calling it the Commonwealth of Maine. Many of the members believed that the handle was disproportionate to the size of the pitcher ; that the prefix was too ponderous. After a somewhat sharp dis- cussion, a member moved the word "commonwealth" be stricken out. The motion was carried by a vote of 119 to 113. On the following day, at the close of a protracted dis- cussion, an ordinance was passed providing that the State should be known by the style and title of the State of Maine. Thus fortunately, for coming generations, the word state took the place of the ponderous prefix, com- monwealth. On the 3d day of April, 1820, the legal voters of Garland assembled to cast their votes for governor of the new State, for the first time, with the following result : William King, Democrat, received twenty votes ; Ruel Williams, Democrat, received six votes; Albion K. Paris, Democrat, received three votes; Moses Buswell received one vote. Mr. King's vote in the State was twenty-one thousand and eighty-three, against one thousand eight hundred and three for all other candidates. His election had long been predicted on account of his ability and popu- larity as a man. Mr. Williams was a man of decided ability, and highly esteemed for liberality in matters of public importance. He was afterwards elected to the Senate of the United States. Mr. Paris was highly esteemed for his excellent qualities. He was the second governor elected by the people, although he was preceded by two acting governors. On the day of the gubernatorial election, the legal HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 195 voters of Garland deposited their votes for representa- tive to the State Legislature with result as follows: Cornelius Coolidge of Dexter received seventeen votes ; Amos Gordon of Garland received eleven votes; Joseph Garland of Garland received one vote. Some town business was transacted on the same dav, April 3d, 1820. Reuben Bartlett, John Chandler and John Trefethen were appointed to select and purchase one acre of land suitable for a cemetery. This was the first action of the town looking to a common burial place for the dead. Previous to this date it had been the custom of families to bury relatives on their own premises. There having been no choice of representative to the Legislature at the first trial, the legal voters assembled on April 13th for a second trial, with result as follows: Captain Joseph Kelsey of Guilford received seven votes ; Seba French of Dexter received five votes; Cornelius Coolidge of Dexter received eleven votes. At that time the representative class embraced the towns of Dexter, Garland, Guilford, Sangerville and Plantation Number Three in the sixth range. A New Epoch The year 1820 opened a new epoch in the history of Maine. It had hitherto been a dependency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Now it had assumed the character of an independent state. The tide of emigration had been setting from the State. It had now turned this way. In common with other towns, the town of Garland shared in the stimulating influences of 196 HISTORY OF GARLAND MAINE returning prosperity. Among the accessions to its population Avas the family of Reuben Bartlett from Nottingham, N. H. Mr. Bartlett purchased the village mill property of Mr. Church, which included a saw and grist-mill. He moved his family into a small house a few rods west of the present saw-mill which had been built by his prede- cessor, Mr. Church. Five or six years later he built the two-story house now owned by C. F. Osgood, where he lived until his death in 1835. The coming of the True family from Deerfield, N. H., occurred in 1820. This family embraced the father and mother, Joseph True and wife, two sons, Abram True and Joseph, Jr. , and several daughters. Mr. True moved into the house built by James McCluer on the place now owned by David Allen, where he lived several years. About the year 1827 he moved into the house built by his son, Joseph True, Jr., at the center of the town, now owned by James Stone. Abram True moved his family into the house of a Mrs. Burton, which was located on a site at the foot of the hill below the present resi- dence of Mrs. Charles E. Merriam. He afterwards built and occupied a house near the residence of the writer. Joseph True, Jr., gives the following account of the journey of his father's family to Maine. Joseph was at that time a resolute boy of nineteen years. On the same day that the other members of the family took passage on a sailing vessel at Portsmouth, N. H., he started on horseback and traveled solitary and alone on his way to Garland. During his six days' ride no inci- dent intervened to relieve the monotony of the journey. But, as showing that the early settlers of western Penobscot were largely from New Hampshire, he passed four of the five nights of his journey with families who had emigrated from his own school-district in Deerfield. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 19' 'J Garland in 1821 The legal voters of Garland assembled on the 22d of January, 1821, "to see if the town will allow the inhab- itants to pay their taxes in grain after the 20th of February instant." Upon this question it was voted that the treasurer should receive grain in payment for taxes until the 15th day of February next. It was also voted to have the highway taxes for 1820 made agree- ably to the Constitution of Maine. The call for this action is not quite apparent. The annual meeting of 1821 was held on April 4th. Philip Greeley was chosen moderator; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk; Isaac Wheeler, Philip Greeley and Reuben Bartlett, selectmen and assessors; Ezekiel Straw, treas- urer, and Isaac Wheeler, Reuben Bartlett and Philip Greeley, superintending school committee. It was voted to raise twelve hundred dollars to build and repair highways, four hundred dollars for the sup- port of schools, fifty-five dollars to pay arrearages, and fifty dollars for town expenses. It was voted that the road tax should be paid in labor, and other taxes in grain ; wheat at nine shillings, and corn and rye at six shillings per bushel each. John M. Fifield was chosen collector of taxes, and a compensation of nine mills per dollar voted for the service. The legal voters of Garland assembled on the 10th of September to vote for governor and other State officers. For governor, Albion K. Parris received forty votes; Joshua Wingate received five votes; Isaac Case received one vote. For representative to the Legislature, Daniel Wilkins of Charleston received thirty-five votes; Cornelius Coolidge of Dexter received ten votes. 198 Action of the Town Relating to Lots of Land Reserved for Public Purposes In the resolve of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, granting the township now known as Garland to Williams College, three lots of land of three hundred and twenty acres each were reserved for public purposes, to wit: one lot for the use of schools, one lot for the first settled minister, his heirs and assigns, and one lot for the use of the ministry. In the conveyance of the township by the college to the men known as -the origi- nal proprietors the same reservations were made. The first action of the town with reference to the reserved lots was at a meeting on September 10, 1821, when Isaac Wheeler, Jeremiah Flanders, Philip Greeley, William Godwin and John Chandler, were appointed a committee to examine the reserved lots, and determine which should be reserved for the benefit of schools, which for the first settled minister, and which for the ministry. Another meeting was held on October 8 th. The records fail to show that there was any report from the committee appointed at the previous meeting. At the meeting of October 8th, the following articles were presented for consideration : "To see if the town will make provision for the settlement of Elder Robinson, or any other person, as a public preacher of the gospel in this town. It was voted that so much of this article as relates to Elder Robinson be passed over, and that a committee be appointed to invite some person to preach in town on trial. It was also voted that a man who shall be accept- able to the town as a public teacher of morality, piety and religion, shall receive one hundred acres of the pub- lic land." Isaac Wheeler, Reuben Bartlett, Joseph HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 199 Garland, John S. Haskell and Thomas S. Tyler were appointed a committee to execute the purposes of this vote. Number of Families in What is Now Garland Village in 1821 Our well- remembered citizen, the late David Fogg, who came to Garland in 1821, and became a member for the time being of the family of his brother- in-law, Abraham True, is authority for the state- ment that at the date of his coming, 1821, there were only five families within the limits of what now is Gar- land village. These were the families of a Mrs. Burton, Abraham True, Reuben Bartlett, Dr. Moses Buswell and Isaac Wheeler, Esq. The True and Burton fami- lies lived together in a house at the foot of the hill below the present residence of Mrs. Charles E. Merriam. The remains of an old cellar indicate the site of the house. Reuben Bartlett lived in a little house on the brow near the present village saw-mill which had been built a few years earlier. Doctor Buswell lived in a house near the center of the village in proximity to the site of the present residence of Elmer Hill. Isaac Wheeler, Esq., lived in a house on the site of the residence of the late William Foss, now the home of F. D. Wood. The post-office in 1821 was at the resi- dence of Reuben Bartlett, now owned by C. F. Osgood. The mail which was received once each week was brought on horseback in summer, and in a pung in winter. Outside the limits of the village, several men estab- 200 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE lished homes in the town in 1821. Among these were Jacob Greeley, who built on the hill a little way north of the schoolhouse in District No. 1 (Dearborn). Benjamin Pressey established a home within the limits of the present school District No. 3, where the late B. L. Trundy resided. Samuel Greeley, afterwards a well- known citizen, emigrated from Salisbury, N. H., and lived in the house vacated by Joseph Garland, the first citizen of the town, about this time. The late Jeremiah Ladd gave the following account of the coming of the Ladd family to Garland. His father, Captain Daniel Ladd, a native of Lee, N. H. , emigrated to Garland in 1821. He first lived on the William Blaisdell place, then upon the place now occupied by James L. Rideout. In 1823 he bought the farm for- merly the residence of Rev. A. P. Andrews, where he built a small house. The carpenter's work upon this house was done by the late Joseph Prescott, who had then just come to the town, and a Mr. Avery. Three or four years later, he bought the Joseph Saunders place, near the hill known as High Cut, afterwards known as the Emerson place. He then purchased land adjoining the Emerson place and built on it. His next move was to the place now owned by Charles H. Brown. Captain Ladd came into the town over the old county road. The first building he passed after entering the town was a mechanic's shop, located near the late residence of Story Jones, now owned by Aaron Knight, and which was owned by two brothers of the name of Davis. The second building passed was a house nearly oppo- site the present residence of Glenn Morgan. There had been other families between this house and the village which had moved away. Captain Ladd found the road that led into town almost impassable. The swamps and HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 201 wet places were spanned by logs placed across the road side by side, known as corduroy road. A ride over this kind of road was tiresome to passers over it, and wearing to carriages. Garland in 1822 At the annual meeting of 1822, held April 3d, Philip Greeley was chosen moderator; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk; Isaac Wheeler, Reuben Bartlett and Ezekiel Straw, selectmen and assessors ; Isaac Wheeler, Reuben Bartlett and Ezekiel Straw, superintending school com- mittee. It was voted to raise three hundred dollars for the support of schools, twelve hundred dollars to build and repair highways, one hundred dollars to repair school- houses, seventy-five dollars to pay town charges, twenty dollars to buy powder, and that the taxes should be paid in wheat at one dollar and twentv-five cents or in corn or rye at eighty-four cents per bushel, the grain to be deliv- ered to the treasurer by the first day of February. On September 9, the legal voters assembled to indi- cate their choice for governor and other officers, when Albion K. Parris received thirty-three votes; Ezekiel Whitman received twenty-three votes; Philip Greeley received one vote. For representative to the Legislature, Winthrop Chapman of Exeter received twenty-three votes ; Daniel Wilkins of Charleston received fourteen votes. Mr. Wilkins was the successful candidate in the dis- trict. On the same day the town voted to assist one of its worthy citizens, who had come to a condition where 202 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE assistance was needed, to the amount of fifty dollars This is the earliest record of assistance to the poor. John Hayes collected the taxes this year for five mills per dollar. Newcomers in 1822 Ansel Field of Paris, Maine, took up his residence in Garland in 1822, and purchased land on the old county road, about one mile south of the village, where he erected buildings and lived. Mr. Field and his wife united with the Congregational church. At the end of about fifteen years he returned to Paris. The farm he left was purchased by the friends of the Rev. John Sawyer. The venerable clergyman spent the last years of his eventful life in the town where he had been instru- mental in the organization of the third Congregational church within, the present limits of Penobscot County. The farm where he lived is now owned by Glenn Morgan. George R. Coffin came to Garland as early as 1822, and established a home on lot two, range five, where he lived for many years. This farm, once owned by Deacon L. M. Rideout, is now in the possession of Galen S. Burrill. Joseph Prescott and Jeremiah Avery came to the town in 1822 to ply their trade as carpenters. Mr. Avery remained in town only a short time. Mr. Prescott bought of Joseph Sargent a part of lot four, range four, where he made a home for his family and lived until his death in 1849. The name of Walter Holbrook appears on the records of the town as early as 1822. He established a home HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 203 on lot four, range six, where he lived until about the year 1835, when he returned to Massachusetts. James Powers came to town in 1822. He married a sister of Captain John L. Jackman. Benjamin Pressey established a home in the Parkman neighborhood, south of the pond, once owned by B. L. Trundy, now the home of Loren Curtis. He was a carpenter, and built for the Fogg family the house a few rods east of the schoolhouse in District No. 3. William Soule moved into the town about the year 1822, and settled in the Parkman neighborhood, south of the pond. He had a large family of boys, among whom were Gideon, David, John and Rufus. Samuel W. Knight's name appears upon the military roll of 1822, which is about the date of his becoming a resident of the town. He purchased a part of lot two, in range seven, where he made a home for his family and lived until his death. This old homestead in 1890 was owned by the late Cyrus Snell, whose son Charles afterwards became the owner and has recently sold to Mrs. Ruel Maguire. Dr. Seth Fogg emigrated from Deerfield, N. H., to Garland in the year 1822, bringing with him a large family of sons and daughters. One son, David, and one daughter, Mrs. Abraham True, were here a year or two earlier. Doctor Fogg first moved into the house vacated a few years earlier by William Sargent, on the place where James L. Rideout now resides. In 1823 he moved into the Burton house, located a few rods north of the present house of Mrs. Charles E. Merriam. Shortly after, he moved into the house that had been built for the Fogg family by Mr. Pressey, where his death soon occurred. This house is now owned and occupied by John McComb, Jr. 204 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Search for a Missing Child in a Neighboring Town in Which Citizens of Garland Participated Common privations and hardships united the early inhabitants of a town in bonds of earnest and sincere sympathy. Each citizen of the town was neighbor to every other citizen, and was always ready to assist others in cases of sickness, accident, or misfortune. Nor was such sympathy pent up within town limits. An incident occurred in a neighboring town that illus- trates this phase of social life in early times. On the sixth of June, 1822, a little four-year-old daughter of Daniel Ames of Sangerville was sent early in the da}' to a neighbor's house, a short distance away, on some trivial errand. She was obliged to pass through a nar- row piece of woodland to reach the point to which she was sent. Not returning as soon as she was expected, a boy was sent to inquire further, who was told by the neighbor that she had not been seen there during the day. Night was near. The neighbors were quickly alarmed and providing themselves with canteens and torches, spent almost the entire night in an anxious, but fruitless search for the missing child. Early the next morning, a dozen young men were sent to traverse the woodland, a little distance apart, and listen for the faintest sounds of alarm or distress which perchance might come from the lips of the little girl, but no sound was heard. The alarm soon reached adjoining towns, where companies of men were speedily organized to assist in the search. Among these was a company from Garland, under direction of Captain Philip Greeley. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 205 The search was continued through several days. It was not relinquished until the last ray of hope had van- ished from the hearts of distressed relatives. The fate of the little girl is to this day shrouded in mystery. Masonic Lodge A lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was organized in Garland on January 24, 1822, in the hall of the two- story house then owned and occupied by William Godwin, which stood upon the site of the house now owned and occupied by the heirs of the late William H. Knight. The house of two stories has since given place to a house of smaller dimensions. This was the second lodge organized within the present limits of the County of Penobscot, and the thirty -fifth within the limits of Maine. It embraced members from adjoining towns, including Exeter and Dexter, and was known as the Penobscot Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. Some of the leading members living in Garland were Isaac Wheeler, Philip Greeley, Jeremiah Flanders and William Godwin. Years later, the headquarters of this lodge were removed to Dexter. Garland in 1823 The legal voters of Garland were summoned to meet on April 7, 1823, to vote for a representative to Con- gress. For this office William Emerson of Bangor received forty votes; Obed Wilson received four votes. 206 Neither of these candidates was elected. There was, however, a significance in the large relative vote of Mr. Emerson which is worthy of mention. It had no relation to party politics or locality. He was a merchant in Bangor, and had rendered valuable assistance to the inhabitants of Garland in the time of their sorest need at much personal risk. At the opening of 1817, there was great destitution of seed for the crops of the approaching summer, a fact that had found place in the heart of the generous mer- chant. With rare thoughtfulness, and rarer generosity, he advised them to prepare the largest possible acreage for crops, and accompanied his advice with the offer to furnish them with seed which had been withheld by the disastrous summer of the preceding year, and to extend to them the privilege of making compensation when more propitious seasons should provide the means to pay. The grateful people of Garland believed that a man possessing the fine personal qualities that had been exhibited by Mr. Emerson, would worthily represent them in Congress if elected. It afforded them an oppor- tunity to exhibit their grateful appreciation of remem- bered generosity which they did not fail to improve. The annual town meeting was held also on the seventh of April. Philip Greeley was chosen moderator; Reuben Bartlett, clerk ; Reuben Bartlett, Ezekiel Straw and Daniel Ladd, selectmen and assessors ; Isaac Wheeler, Samuel Warren and Daniel Ladd, superintending school committee; Philip Greeley was appointed collector of taxes, and a compensation of two per cent, voted him. Isaac Wheeler was chosen treasurer. The town voted to raise one thousand dollars to make and repair highways, three hundred dollars for the sup- port of schools, to be paid in grain, wheat at one dol- lar and twenty-five cents, and corn and rye at eighty- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 207 four cents each ; and thirty-five dollars for the purchase of powder to be paid in the same currency. One hun- dred dollars was voted to pay town charges, fifty-five dollars of which was to be paid in money and forty-five dollars in grain. The fifty-five dollars mentioned in this vote was the first money raised in Garland as payment of taxes. It may fairly be inferred from this fact that money was not overabundant in the early years of the town's history. Previous to 1823, the highway tax had been paid in labor, and all other taxes in grain. The legal voters of Garland assembled to cast their votes for governor and other officers on September 7th. For governor, Albion K. Parris received forty votes. For representative to the Legislature, Cornelius Coolidge of Dexter received twenty-two votes ; Nathaniel Oak of Exeter received eleven votes. This election resulted in the choice of Mr. Parris for governor, and Mr. Coolidge for representative to the State Legislature. It is worthy of note that while the full vote for governor in Bangor was only eighty-four, the vote in Garland for the same officer was forty. First Store in Garland Village &* What is now Garland village did not grow as fast as other parts of the town. This was due to the repressive policy of the agent of the proprietors, who would sell land only at prices much above its real value. Of the forty-five petitioners for an Act of Incorporation in 1810, not more than three or four resided within the limits of the present village. 208 HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE Of the forty-five families living in the town in 1820, only five families resided in the village. The first store in the village was built in 1823 by Isaac Wheeler, Esq. Upon its completion, Abraham Cox and John Walker, afterwards a well known merchant of Exeter for many years, put a stock of goods into it. Their success was not flattering and they abandoned the business after a short trial. The building has since been used for vari- ous kinds of merchandising. For the last twenty years it has afforded a very convenient place for the purposes of a post-office. Following Cox & Walker, it has been occupied in turn by Charles Reynolds, Charles Plummer, Calvin S. Wheeler, John S. Kimball, Stephen Kimball, John H. Ramsdell, Elijah Norcross, Charles Chandler, Lorenzo Oak, a Mr. Dunham, Johnson & Preble, (N. W. Johnson and Wins Preble) and Henry C. Preble. A millinery business was carried on in one of its apart- ments by the late Mrs. Octavia Hobbie, Miss Lizzie Rideout, and the late Mrs. Nathaniel Johnson, for several years. Returning to the events of 1823, Garland was favored by the coming of several families during that year. Among these was the family of Joseph Sargent, who purchased the farm upon which his brother William made a beginning in 1802, now the residence of James Rideout. Mr. Sargent emigrated from Boscawen, N. H. His goods were brought to Bangor by water, while his family made the journey to the same place overland. Leaving their children at Bangor, they made the trip to Garland with horse and wagon. Their ride to this place was along a road that bore but faint resemblance to New Hampshire turnpikes. Arriving at their new home they found but little to inspire confidence or hope HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 209 for the future. The home they had left behind, from which they had been driven by adverse fortune, was fur- nished with all the comforts and conveniences that characterized the best homes of the rural districts of New Hampshire at that time. The home they found at the end of their journey was scarcely suggestive of home. The family moved into the house of a neighbor to remain until their own house could be made habitable. The contrast between the old and new home was the occasion of much grief to Mrs. Sargent. Although naturally of a lively and cheerful disposition, she spent many an hour in weeping when alone. But she was a woman of the heroic type and resolutely concealed her own sadness when in the presence of others. By the force of industry and good management, prosperity at length returned to this family, bearing with it the well earned enjoyments that blessed their earlier life. Garland in 1824 The annual town meeting of 1824 was held on March 30. Philip Greeley was chosen moderator; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk; Daniel Ladd, Ansel Field and Walter Holbrook, selectmen and assessors; Isaac Wheeler, treasurer ; Isaac Wheeler, Samuel Warren and Ansel Field, superintending school committee, and Daniel Moore, collector of taxes, for a compensation of two per cent. The town voted to raise one thousand dollars to make and repair highways, four hundred dollars for the sup- port of schools, and fifty dollars to buy powder and 210 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE defray town charges. For the first time the town voted that all taxes except highway taxes should be paid in money. The first step towards this policy had been taken a year earlier. The election for the choice of governor and other officers was held on the second Monday of September, when Albion K. Parris received thirty-four votes for gov- ernor; Cornelius Coolidge received thirty-three votes for representative to the State Legislature. Mr. Coolidge was the successful candidate. A Mustering of the Militia *)-> An event of more than local interest occurred in Gar- land in 1824. It was nothing less than the mustering of the companies of the fifth regiment of the militia. Other regimental musters occurred in town, but a description of one will answer for all. The troops were assembled on the level field on the north side of the road leading to Dexter, belonging to Isaac Wheeler, Esq. There were no buildings, public or private, upon this street at that time. Where now stands the town-house, the Congregational church and parsonage, and private residences, there were tents and booths for the sale of gingerbread, pies, and food of a more substantial char- acter for the hungry, new cider and beer for the thirsty youngsters, and something stronger for older people. Indeed the latter drink sometimes acquired mastery over men who were among our best citizens. There was here and there a dance-floor of rough plank where men under the influence of the favorite New England beverage disported by scraping the bottoms of their heavy brogans to the music of a cracked violin. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 211 A Political Campaign Projected The year 1824 marked the opening of a Presidential campaign. The politicians of the Congressional district of which Garland was a part, called a convention to assemble on the day, and at the place of the general muster, to nominate a candidate for Presidential elector and to organize for the campaign. Jonathan Farrar, a well known citizen of Dexter, was nominated for elector. A large committee was appointed to prepare an address to the voters of the district setting forth the issues involved in the campaign. Bangor, Levant, Charleston, Exeter, Dexter, Corinth and Garland were represented in this committee. Gar- land was represented by Philip Greeley and Amos Gordon. The assembling of two such bodies as the regi- mental muster, and the Congressional district convention, on the same day may be regarded as a "red letter" day in the earlv history of Garland. Garland in 1825 At the annual meeting of 1825, held on April 4th, the officers chosen were Daniel Ladd, moderator; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk ; Daniel Ladd, Ansel Field and Walter Holbrook, selectmen ; Isaac Wheeler, Dr. Seth Fogg and Paul M. Fisher, superintending school com- mittee, and William Godwin, treasurer. The town appropriated four hundred dollars for schools, fifteen hundred dollars for roads, one hundred and five dollars for town charges, and one hundred and sixty dollars to pay existing demands. Daniel Moore 212 was chosen collector, and his compensation was fixed at four and nine tenths per cent. It was voted to receive grain for all taxes except highway taxes which were to be paid in labor. Prices fixed for grain were seven shillings, and sixpence for wheat, five shillings for corn, and six shiDings for rye. Fall Elections The legal voters of Garland assembled on September 12th to vote for governor and other officers. For governor, Albion K. Parris received eighteen votes; Enoch Lincoln received fourteen votes. For representative to the Legislature, Winthrop Chapman received twenty-four votes; Reuben Bartlett received seven votes. Mr. Parris was elected governor by a large majority. Neither of the candidates for the State Legislature sup- ported by the voters of Garland was elected. Cornelius Coolidge of Dexter was the successful candidate. The representative class embraced, at that time, the towns of Garland, Exeter, Corinth, Charleston and Dexter. Destructive Fires in 1825 The farmers of central Maine were favored with abundant crops in 1825. The continual warm weather of the summer season resulted not only in abundance of crops, but in early harvests, thus giving the farmers a long autumnal season for its appropriate work. At that MAINE 213 time a majority of the farmers in this section were increasing the area of their crop-producing lands from year to year. In the work of clearing the lands of the forests that covered them, fire was an indispensable agency. Late in the summer, and early in the autumn of 1825, fires were extensively kindled in aid of clearing lands, and the farmers congratulated each other upon getting "good burns. " But the warm weather that had given them good crops, early harvests, and aided them in get- ting "good burns," had also dried the surface of their lands, and had made everything of a combustible nature food for flames. By the last of September, wells had become dry, rivers and streams had been greatly reduced in volume, and brooks had disappeared. The late Rev. Amasa Loring, who was warmly engaged with his neighbors in efforts to arrest the progress of the flames, says in his History of Piscataquis County that much of the cleared land contained decaying stumps, and was enclosed with log fences, while the stubble upon the grain and mowing fields was thick and rank, and all as dry as tinder, and that fires that had been set did not go out, but lingered and smouldered still, and that in the evening of October 7th, after a still and smoky day, a violent gale from the north and northwest fanned these smouldering fires into a furious and rushing blaze. Men and boys were hurried to the earlier points of danger, but were soon summoned back to fight the fire from their own threatened dwellings. As morning broke, the wind subsided, and the fires lulled away relieving the terror of the stricken and weary inhabitants. With respect to the results of the disastrous fire — Mr. Loring says — "Almost every man's wood-land had been burned over, and much of its growth killed, large tracks of tim- 214 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE ber land had been severely injured and many buildings destroyed." Hon. John E. Godfrey says in his Annals of Bangor, that the roaring of the fire was like thunder, and was heard at a distance of from twelve to fifteen miles. Houses, barns, saw-mills and grist-mills were destroyed. He also says that there were burned in Guilford four houses and five barns, in Ripley eleven houses and nine barns, in Harmony four houses and five barns, in Dover one barn, in Monson one barn. There were other build- ings burned, and the damage to the timber lands was enormous. There is still a lingering belief in the minds of some of the citizens of the counties that suffered from the ravages of the fires of 1825, that they originated from the burning of hay in northern Penobscot, by the order of the State Land Agent, to cripple the operations of the plunderers of the timber lands belonging to the State. It is not necessary to go so far away to find the origin of these fires. In the widespread and severe drouth of that time, the necessary conditions for start- ing fires were present in almost every town. The excep- tions were towns where there were no smouldering fires to be fanned into furious flames. Mr. Loring, a participator in the fight against the on-rushing flames, says that the fire had marked its way from Moosehead Lake across the county. In his Annals of Bangor, Hon. John E. Godfrey says: "The enemies of the land agent were not unwilling that he should have the reputation of originating the fires which had caused such devastation in the northerly part of Penob- scot County, when he caused the hay cut by the tres- passers to be burnt," and adds that although this was not the case, yet the Indians had been impressed with the idea that it was. HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE 215 The town of Garland was on the line of the advan- cing flames, but before it was reached the wind had ceased, and the town escaped injury. Nevertheless its inhabi- tants had suffered keenly with terror and anxiety. Garland in 1826 The annual town meeting of 1826 was held on April 6th. Abraham J. Cox was chosen moderator; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Isaac Wheeler and Ansel Field, selectmen and assessors; Abraham J. Cox, treasurer, and Isaac Wheeler, Isaac E. Wilkins and Ansel Field, superintending school committee. Walter Holbrook was chosen collector, and a compensa- tion of one and nine tenths per cent, voted for the service. The town voted to raise three hundred dollars for the support of schools, twelve hundred dollars to make and repair highways, and two hundred dollars to defray town charges. A step had been taken in 1823 towards the policy of requiring taxes to be paid in money. With the exception of that year all taxes but highway taxes, which were paid in labor, had been paid in grain at prices determined by the town each year. In 1826, and since, taxes, except for making and repairing highways, have been paid in money. The town voted "that the remaining three eighths of the public lands be divided between the religious societies which have not received any, according to their numbers." The legal voters assembled on the 1 1 th day of Septem- ber to vote for governor and other officers. For governor, Enoch Lincoln received twenty -six 216 votes ; William Godwin received six votes ; Ezekiel Whitman received five votes. For representative to the State Legislature, Reuben Bartlett of Garland received twenty-four votes ; Daniel Ladd of Garland received twentv-two votes: Lewis J Goulding of Garland received one vote. Enoch Lincoln was elected governor. Winthrop Chapman of Exeter, who had received no votes in Gar- land, was elected representative to the State Legislature. The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams occurred on the Fourth of July, 1826. The news of the death of these two eminent men carried sadness into every town, village and hamlet in the United States. Both had participated in the stirring events that led to the Revolutionary War. Both were members of the convention from which had emanated the immortal Declaration of Independence, embodying truths that have given the people of this country the best govern- ment in the world, and that are destined to revolutionize all other governments. Mr. Adams had been the second and Mr. Jefferson the third President of the United States. It was a remarkable coincidence that these emi- nent men, who had been associated in establishing the foundations of this government, and of administering its affairs in turn, should die on the same day, and that day, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The voters of Garland had met on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1826, to ballot for a representative to Con- gress. This Congressional district embraced the counties of Penobscot and Somerset. The territory of the county of Piscataquis was at that time embraced within the two counties above named. There having been no choice at this trial, another trial occurred on December 18, 1826, which, like the first, failed to elect. The third trial HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 217 occurred on the second of April, 1827, which also failed to elect. At the present time we hear much lamentation over the degeneracy of political methods and practices. People who indulge in such lamentations would do well to study the methods and practices which were prevalent in the earlier history of Maine. In his Annals of Bangor, Judge Godfrey gives us some information upon this matter. Referring to the aspirants for Congressional honors, and their friends in this Con- gressional district, he says : ' 'The candidates nominated by conventions and individuals were respectable men, but it mattered not who were the candidates, when one obtained sufficient prominence, he was pursued by the friends of the others with a bitterness that would be hardly excusable in savages. Like death they pursued the shining mark; no matter how sensitive the subject or how pure his life, if there were the least flaw in the armor of his character it was found and pierced, and reamed, and rasped, until it would seem to be the most rickety and unsubstantial character in existence." He also says that Governor Lincoln's proclamation in 1827 for a day of fasting and prayer might well have been carefully studied by the politicians of the time. As the sentiments of this proclamation are good for all times, an extract will not be out of place here. "I recommend to every one to observe the day as a Christian ; if he be under the influence of any vice, to banish it ; if in error, to correct it; if under obligations to others, honestly to discharge them; if suffering injuries, to for- give them ; if aware of any animosities, to extinguish them, and if able to do any benevolent act to any being created by the Almighty power to which he owes his existence and his faculties, to do it. Especially I recommend that being members of one great community, 218 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE we unite as Christian politicians so that we may render perpetual the peace and prosperit}- of our country and of this State. ' ' Although there has been a manifest improvement in political methods and practices since the early days of Maine's statehood, there is still left a wide margin for further advancement in this direction. Garland in 1827 The year 1827 witnessed a continuation of the contest for a representative to Congress. There had been three abortive trials to elect. The fourth trial was also a failure. Through the period of these failures to elect, this Congressional district was without representation in Congress. The failures were due to the manner of nomi- nating candidates. Small coteries of men, at different points in the dis- trict, nominated personal friends without regard to the preference of the voters at large. To such an extent was this practice carried, that there were sometimes from six to ten candidates for Congressional honors before the voters of the district. As an illustration, at the third trial of the protracted contest which has been described, the voters of Garland distributed their votes to seven different candidates. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 219 Congressional Convention After repeated failures running through two years, the friends of the administration met at Garland on the sixteenth day of August, and nominated Samuel Butman of Dixmont as their candidate for representative to Con- gress. Mr. Butman was the successful candidate. The annual meeting for town business was held on April 2. The officers were Walter Holbrook, moder- ator; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Daniel Ladd and Samuel W. Knight, selectmen and assessors ; Isaac Wheeler, treasurer, and Isaac E. Wilkins, Moses Buswell and Isaac Wheeler, superin- tending school committee. William Godwin was chosen collector of taxes, and his compensation was fixed at three per cent. The appropriations were two hundred dollars for town charges, fifteen hundred dollars for highways, to be paid in labor at twelve and one half cents per hour, and three hundred dollars for schools. Fall Election For governor, Enoch Lincoln received twenty-seven votes; William Godwin received six votes; Ezekiel Whitman received three votes. For representative to the Legislature, Reuben Bartlett received thirty-one votes ; Elijah Skinner received three votes; William Eddy received three votes; David A. Gove received one vote. 220 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE In the State at large, Enoch Lincoln was elected gov- ernor. Reuben Bartlett was elected to the Legislature. The division of the public land reserved for the first settled minister became the occasion of considerable trouble to the town, and perhaps to the minister as well. The Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins was entitled to five eighths of this land by virtue of an agreement with the town, but no division between the contracting parties had been made. A committee had been appointed to propose a division of the land, but the records fail to show that any action had been taken by the committee. Subsequently Mr. Wilkins was authorized to select a committee for this service. This had not been done. At a meeting held November 28th, the town voted "that Reuben Bartlett, Joseph Prescott and Isaac Wheeler, be a committee to make application to the Court of Common Pleas for a committee to divide the land which the inhabitants hold in common with the Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins unless the said Wilkins cause it to be divided immediately by virtue of a vote passed Sep- tember 11, 1827." An Early Spring Samuel P. Sargent is authority for the statement that his father, Joseph Sargent, raised the barn now standing on the farm of James Rideout, on the ninth of April, 1827, and that Major Merrill had a team plowing on the David Allen place on the same day. This statement respecting the earliness of the season of 1827, finds confirmation in Judge Godfrey's Annals of Bangor, wherein he says of the same season, that cucumbers measuring from five to six and one half inches MAINE 221 long were picked in Bangor on the eleventh of June which were the earliest that had then ever been raised in the country. The methods of forcing the growth of vegetables now employed were not in use then. Garland in 1828 At the annual meeting of 1828, held March 31st, Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator ; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk ; Reuben Bartlett, Daniel Ladd and Jeremiah Flanders, selectmen and assessors; William Fairfield, M. D. , Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins and Isaac Wheeler, Esq. , were chosen superintending school committee. Samuel W. Knight was chosen collector, and a compensation of two and seven tenths per cent, was voted for the service. The town voted to raise fifteen hundred dollars to make and repair highways, three hundred dollars for the support of schools and two hundred dollars to defray town charges. The highway tax was to be paid in labor for which men and oxen were to be allowed twelve and one half cents per hour until the 15th of September, and eight cents on and after that date. Among the practices of the earlier years of the town's history, was that of allowing cattle to run within the limits of the highways for pasturage. This practice was an ever present menace to the growing crops which were often seriously damaged by cattle that ran at large on the highways. It forced the farmers to build and maintain fences between their growing crops and the highway, which was, perhaps, the most serious burden they were forced to confront. It led to disputes, neigh* borhood quarrels and litigations. 222 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAFNE In 1828, the town voted "that neat cattle be prohib- ited from going at large from the first day of June to the first day of November, 1828. ': Similar action was often taken by the town in subsequent years until the State made it the duty of every owner of stock to fence his own stock in, and relieved him of the burden of fen- cing other men's stock out. As the result of this policy, many a farmer has been rejieved from a burdensome necessity, and the aggregate of savings has run largely into the thousands. On the 8th day of September, 1828, the legal voters of Garland balloted for governor and other officers. For governor, Enoch Lincoln received twenty-nine votes ; Solomon Parsons received twent}r-four votes ; Daniel Emery received fifteen votes ; William Emerson received one vote. For senator to State Legislature, Nathan Herrick received eighteen votes ; Reuben Bartlett received seven- teen votes. For representative to the Legislature, Samuel Butman received twentv-one votes; Samuel Whitnev received seventeen votes, and William Emerson received one vote. In several instances the successful candidate for the Legislature failed to get a single vote in Garland. This was the fact in 1828. Although Winthrop Chapman of Exeter failed to get a single vote in Garland, he was the successful candidate. Such results were due to the fact that the caucus system of the present time was not so fully developed, and its authority not so fully acknowl- edged then as now. In the presidential election of 1828, Garland gave a small majority for the National Republican candidate, John Quincy Adams. Andrew Jackson, the Democratic candidate, was elected. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 223 The First Cemetery In 1828 the town established the first cemetery within its limits, in what is now District No. 7. Its location is near the schoolhouse in that district, and is known as the Burnham Cemeterv. Before this, the dead had often been buried on the premises of relatives, and their graves had been subject to neglect and desecration when such premises changed hands. Walter Holbrook, Moses Gordon and Daniel Ladd were appointed to inclose the cemetery and superintend the removal of the dead from their scattered resting places thereto. Garland in 1829 The annual meeting of 1829 was held on March 30. Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator ; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Daniel Ladd and Samuel W. Knight, selectmen and assessors; Reuben Bartlett, treasurer ; Isaac E. Wilkins, Reuben Bartlett and Charles Reynolds, superintending school committee. Jeremiah Flanders was chosen collector, and a compensation of two and nine tenths mills voted for the service. The town voted to raise two thousand dollars to make and repair highways, to be paid in labor at twelve and one half cents per hour for men and oxen until Septem- ber 15, and eight cents after that date. Three hundred dollars was voted for the support of schools and two hundred dollars to defray town charges. The inhabit- ants were forbidden to pasture their cattle in the roads during the period of growing crops. 224 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The inhabitants of Garland met on the 14th of Sep- tember, 1829, to provide for the rebuilding of a bridge across the neck of the pond, a little way north of the village mills. A contract was made with Daniel Moore to furnish the necessary timber for the bridge. The legal voters assembled on September 14th to bal- lot for governor and other officers. For governor, Samuel E. Smith received forty votes ; Jonathan G. Minturn received seventeen votes. For representative to the Legislature, Reuben Bartlett received forty votes; Cornelius Coolidge received twenty votes. The political canvass of 1829 had been bitter, and the result was unsatisfactory to both parties. Mr. Hunton was elected governor, and Mr. Chapman repre- sentative to the Legislature. The Genesis of the Temperance Reform In the year 1828 or 1829, Isaac Wheeler, Esq., one of Garland's pioneers, was at work in his field, on what is now known as the Foss farm. At work with him, was Joseph True, Jr., then scarcely more than a boy. On the opposite side of the road was the house where the Clark family now resides, which was then occupied by the Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins, Garland's first settled minister. A county temperance society had been organized embracing in its membership some of the most prominent men in the county. The subject was a theme for dis- cussion in many of the towns. Mr. Wheeler and young True had an earnest conversation upon the subject which 225 resulted in their going to Mr. Wilkins with the request that he would write a pledge, which he cheerfully con- sented to do. The three men signed it and from this transaction emerged Garland's first temperance society. Review of Town's Growth From 1820 to 1830 From 1820 to 1830 there was an accession to the town of about seventy families. Among these were the fami- lies of Reuben Bartlett, Abraham True, Joseph True, Sr. , Joseph Prescott, Joseph Sargent, Dr. Seth Fogg, Benjamin Pressey, Rufus Inman, Thomas B. Saunders, Walter Holbrook, Samuel Warren, William Warren, William Mansfield, Ansel Field, Samuel W. Knight, Zebulon Knight, Daniel Ladd, Jeremiah Ladd, William Buswell, M. D. , Asa W. Soule, Gains Soule, Lewis Soule, Haskell Besse, James Powers, Leonard Leland, John Davis, James Robbins, William Soule, Gideon Soule, David Soule, John Soule, Gilbert Wallace, Enoch Rollins, John Hamilton, Joseph Strout, Joseph Johnson, John Johnson, Israel Colley, Lewis Goulding, Amos Higgins, William Doble, William Sargent, David Sargent, Aaron Hill, Elisha Nye, Rufus Soule, Phineas Batchelder, John H. Batchelder, Mason Skinner, James March, Jacob Quimby, Samuel Greeley, John E. Ladd, James Parker, George Curtis, Russell Murdock, Isaac E. Wilkins, William Fairfield, M. D., Herbert Thorndike, William Rollins, Fifield Lyford, David M. Greeley, Eben Battles, Seth Smith, Isaiah Stillings, Eliab Stewart, Andrew Smith, David Moore, James Holbrook, Benjamin Mayo. A few of the above names are those of young men 226 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE who were not heads of families previous to 1830, but became so after that date. The population of Garland in 1830 was six hundred and twenty-one, an increase of three hundred and forty-six in ten years. There were but few events in the period under review worthy of special notice. The town had enjoyed a happy exemption from the remarkable discouragements and hardships that had char- acterized its earlier history. The allegiance of its citi- zens had been transferred from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the State of Maine. The town had settled Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins as its first minister. The Free Will Baptist church had been organized in 1825. Several school districts had been established, and the advantages for instruction of persons of school age extended. The policy of paying taxes, excepting high- way taxes, in money had been established, indicating that this convenience of civilization was becoming more abundant. Roads had been improved and extended. The crops had generally been good, and the people had been fairly prosperous. Garland in 1830 The town officers of 1830 were Joseph Prescott, moderator; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Samuel W. Knight and Jeremiah Flanders, selectmen and assessors; Reuben Bartlett, treasurer; Ezekiel Straw, collector, at a compensation of one and three-fourths per cent. ; Isaac E. Wilkins, Charles Reynolds and Daniel M. Haskell, superintending school committee. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 227 It was voted to raise two thousand dollars for high- ways, three hundred and fifty dollars for schools and fifty-five dollars for town charges. Men and oxen were to be allowed twelve and one half cents per hour for labor on the roads until September 15, and eight cents per hour thereafter. Charles Reynolds, town clerk, having been notified by Zenas Flanders, field driver, that damage had been done to the crops of Gideon Soule by two chestnut colored horses, and two red yearling colts that had been taken up and impounded, a warrant was issued to James Dinsmore and George Curtis, dated August 1, 1830, to proceed at once to the estimation of the damage to said crops. The amount returned for damages was fifty cents. Pro- ceedings of this kind were a feature of that period. Sometimes they originated in a spirit of spite, but were intended to protect the inhabitants from damage to their crops. On September 13, 1830, the town balloted for gov- ernor, representative to Congress, representative to the Legislature, and other officers. For governor, Jonathan G. Hunton received thirty-two votes; J. G. Hunton received two votes; Samuel E. Smith received sixtv-seven votes. For representative to Congress, Ebenezer S. Philips received thirty-one votes ; James Bates received sixty-six votes. For representative to Legislature, Reuben Bartlett received sixty-five votes; R. Bartlett received five votes; John Bates received thirty-three votes; John Wilkins received one vote. Samuel E. Smith was elected governor, James Bates representative to Congress and Winthrop Chapman representative to the Legislature. On the same day, September 13, the second public cemetery was estab- 228 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE lished. It was located in the northwesterly part of the town, and is known as the Greeley Cemetery. Action was taken to have it properly fenced, and the scattered dead in that part of the town removed to it. A bridge was built across the neck of the pond, just north of the village grist-mill, in 1830 or 1831. The timber for this bridge was furnished by Daniel Moore, a citizen of the town. Increasing Prosperity From 1820 to 1830 the inhabitants of Garland, being at a remove of several years from the depressing influ- ences of the war that terminated in 1814, and of the almost total destruction of their crops in 1816, began to exhibit new indications of prosperity. This was noticeable in the building of larger and more convenient dwellings. Philip Greeley built a two-story dwelling soon after 1820, upon the estate in District No. 1, now owned bv the heirs of the late William B. Foss. In 1822, Jeremiah Flanders built the dwelling now occupied by Edwin Preble. William Godwin built a two- story dwelling about the year 1822, upon the site now owned by the heirs of the late William H. Knight. It was built for a tavern when the teaming back and forth from western Piscataquis passed the site of this house. The Penobscot Masonic Lodge was organized and had its headquarters here for several years. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 229 Garland in 1831 The annual town meeting was held on April 11th. Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator ; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Charles Reynolds and Samuel W. Knight, selectmen ; Charles Reynolds, Daniel M. Haskell and Enoch M. Barker, M. D. , superintending school committee, and Reuben Bartlett, treasurer. William Godwin was chosen collector, and his compen- sation was fixed at two per cent. It was voted to raise two thousand five hundred dollars to make and repair highways, and to allow men and oxen twelve and one half cents per hour until October 1st, three hundred dollars for the support of schools, one hundred and fifty dollars to defray town charges and thirty-five dollars for the support of the poor. This was the first action taken by the town in aid of the poor. Neat stock was prohibited from running in the roads during the period of growing crops. The legal voters assembled September 12, 1831, to ballot for governor and other officers. Samuel E. Smith received fifty-two votes for governor; Daniel Goodenow received forty-four votes for governor. Samuel E. Smith, the Democratic candidate, was elected governor. Winthrop Chapman of Exeter, who failed to get a single vote in Garland, was elected repre- sentative to the Legislature. An Abundant Crop of Corn The year 1831 was characterized by a large yield of corn. It is doubtful if any season since has been so 230 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE favorable to the growth of that crop. For several seasons following 1831, corn was a very uncertain crop, owing to the recurrence of early frosts which arrested its growth, and prevented its ripening. Years later, it was found that a careful preparation of the soil and selection of seed was generally followed by a good yield. Garland in 1832 The first town meeting of 1832 was of early occur- rence. Reuben Bartlett, owner of the mill property in the village, contemplated building a new grist-mill. This plan, if carried out, would benefit the surrounding community. It was, therefore, regarded with favor by the inhabitants of the town. It was his purpose to increase the height of his dam to secure a larger and more abundant supply of water. This would enlarge the area of flowage. Two citizens of the town, who owned land on the shore of the pond, threatened suits for damage in case the dam should be raised. Mr. Bartlett, who had no fears of having to pay damage, was conscious of the fact that large bills for costs might be incurred in defense of threatened suits. A meeting of the inhabitants of the town was held January 28, 1832, when it was voted "to pay all bills of costs that Reuben Bartlett, his heirs or assigns, may have to pay in defending any that may be prosecuted against him for flowing land necessary to the operation of his mills, provided the said Bartlett shall erect a good grist-mill as soon as may be, the damage to flowed lands, if any there be, to be paid by said Bartlett. " No action for damage was ever begun. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 231 At the annual town meeting of 1832, held March 19, Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator ; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Benjamin H. Oak and Daniel M. Haskell, selectmen and assessors ; Reuben Bartlett, treasurer; Abraham True, collector, compen- sation two per cent., and E. M. Barker, Charles Reynolds and D. M. Haskell, superintending school committee. It was voted to raise two thousand dollars for high- ways, men, oxen and plows to be paid twelve and one half cents per hour, and not to be allowed more than twelve hours for any single day's work. It was voted to raise three hundred and fifty dollars for the support of schools, and one hundred dollars to defray town charges. It was voted that the annual town meetings thereafter should be held on the second Monday in March. The meeting to ballot for governor and other officers was held September 10, 1832, when Samuel E. Smith received fifty-six votes for governor; Daniel Goodenow received fifty-eight votes for governor ; Reuben Bartlett received fifty-five votes for representative to the Legis- lature; Russell Kitridge received fifty-eight votes for representative to the Legislature. Samuel E. Smith was elected governor, Reuben Bartlett, representative to the Legislature. The presidential election of 1832 occurred on the fifth of November. Henry Clay was the Whig candidate and Andrew Jackson was the Democratic candidate. The Whig candidates for electors received fifty-six votes, and the Democratic candidates received sixty-seven votes. A business meeting was held on the day of the presi- dential election, at which the town voted to appropriate the ministerial lands in the town of Garland to the use of primary schools. In his Annals of Bangor, Judge Godfrey says of the season of 1832 — "The spring was 232 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE cold this year. Fires were comfortable up to, and into June. ' ' Garland in 1833 In 1833, the annual town meeting was held March 11th. Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Benjamin H. Oak, and Charles Reynolds, selectmen and assessors ; Reuben Bartlett, treasurer; Charles Reynolds, Alphonzo Adams and Daniel M. Haskell, superintending school committee. Abraham True was chosen collector and the compensation was fixed at two per cent. It was voted to raise twenty-five hundred dollars to build and repair highways, and to allow twelve and one half cents per hour for the labor of men and oxen until the 15th of September, and eight cents per hour until the opening of winter, when twelve and one half cents was to be paid for the labor of men and oxen. The sum of four hundred dollars was voted for the support of schools, one hundred and fifty dollars to defray town charges and thirty dollars for the support of the poor. The legal voters assembled on September 9th to ballot for governor, representative to Congress, representative to the Legislature and other officers. Robert P. Dunlap, Democrat, received seventy-six votes for governor; Daniel Goodenow, Whig, received thirty-one votes for governor. Gorham Parks, Democrat, received seventy-six votes for representative to Congress ; Ebenezer Hutchinson, Whig, received thirty-one votes for representative to Congress. Joseph Bridgham, Democrat, received seventy-six votes for representative to the Legislature, and Russell MAINE 233 Kitridge, Whig, received thirty-two votes for the same office. Mr. Dunlap was the successful candidate for governor. The town refused to grant licenses to sell spirituous liquors to be drank in the stores and shops of retailers. The lower road from West Garland to Dexter, near the north shore of Pleasant Pond, was laid out in 1833. The section of the county road leading from Dover to Dexter, across the northwest corner of Garland, was made in 1833. The section from Dover line to Main Stream was made by James J. Chandler and Jacob Greeley at eighty cents per rod. The section from Main Stream to Dexter line, was made bv Thomas M. and William A. Murray at eighty-two cents per rod. Garland in 1834 At the annual meeting of the town in 1834, held March 11, Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Benjamin H. Oak and Charles Reynolds, selectmen and assessors; Reuben Bartlett, treasurer; Charles Reynolds, Alphonzo Adams and Daniel M. Haskell, superintending school committee; James J. Chandler, collector, at two and one half per cent. It was voted to raise two thousand dollars for high- ways, three hundred and fifty dollars for schools, one hundred and twenty-five dollars for town charges, thirty dollars for the support of the poor, sixty dollars to com- plete the northwest county road, and to allow the same price as last year for men, oxen and the use of tools. The legal voters of Garland assembled September 8, 1834, to ballot for governor and other officers. 234) HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE For governor, Robert P. Dunlap received ninety-nine votes; Peleg Sprague received sixty-one votes and Thomas A. Hill received four votes. For representative to Congress, Gorham Parks received ninety-nine votes; Edward Kent received sixty-three votes. For senators, Reuben Bartlett, Democrat, received ninety-one votes; Ira Fish, Democrat, received ninety- eight votes; Waldo T. Pierce, Whig, received sixty-one votes; Richard H. Rice, Whig, received sixty-one votes. For representative to Legislature, William Hutchins received ninety-nine votes; Jefferson Cushing received sixty-three votes. The majorities for the Democratic candidates in 1834 were larger than usual. A Business Center The locality of Bangor at the head of navigation of Maine's largest river, and at a central point of one of its best agricultural regions, made it a place of great importance to the inhabitants of many of the surround- ing towns. After recovering from the effects of the War of 1812, and the disastrous results of the cold season of 1816, its growth was rapid. Here, the farmers of a larger region, including the counties of Penobscot, Piscataquis and sections of Somerset, found a market for their surplus crops. It became the largest lumber market in the world. The manufacture of shingles by hand in the country towns in winter was an industry of considerable importance. The farmers could make a few thousand of shingles, without interference with their regular farm work, which would always bring money in HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 235 Bangor in the latter part of winter and spring. The bright light of burning shavings from the "shingle weaver's camp" through the long winter evenings was a feature of the times. Any change of conditions that contributed to the growth and increase of business in Bangor was of advantage to the towns around it. The business rela- tions of Bangor with Boston were important. Previous to 1834, the transportation of merchandise and passen- gers between the two places was through the medium of sailing vessels. The time required for the trips of the vessels was always uncertain, and often protracted. In 1834, the steamer Bangor, which has since become historic, was built and placed on the route between Ban- gor and Boston to carry passengers and freight. The merchant who now went to Boston for the purchase of goods, could determine with proximate certainty the time of his return with such merchandise as was immed- iately wanted. The successful accomplishment of this new enterprise was of advantage to the business men of the country towns as well as to those of Bangor. It opened new markets to the farmers and manufacturers of central Maine. The Hop Industry The cultivation of hops for the market had become an industry of some importance in a few of the towns adjoining Garland. The picking, curing and packing the hops had given employment to troops of girls and boys during the harvest season as well as profit to the farmers. In 1834, Honorable Reuben Bartlett provided 236 the necessary building and fixtures for curing and pack- ing. Thus encouraged, a number of the farmers turned their attention to the cultivation of hops. The business in this section was soon overdone ; the price of hops fell, and the hop industry was abandoned. Garland in 1835 At the annual town meeting of 1835, held March 9th, Bildad A. Haskell was chosen moderator ; Charles Reynolds, town clerk ; Daniel M. Haskell, David Pierce and Bildad A. Haskell, selectmen and assessors; Reuben Bartlett, treasurer; Daniel M. Haskell, Enoch Hunting- ton and Alphonzo Adams, superintending school com- mittee. The town voted to raise two thousand five hundred dollars for making and mending roads, three hundred and fifty dollars for schools, three hundred dollars for town charges, fifty dollars to support the poor and one hundred and twenty-five dollars towards making the section of the county road, running in a northwesterly direction from a point a few rods south of the residence of Benjamin True, by the site of the schoolhouse in District No. 10, and the residence of Henry Merrill, to the point of divergence of the original route from the Sangerville road. It will be difficult for later generations to realize that the travel and heavy transportation each way between Bangor and western Piscataquis, including the towns of Abbot, Guilford and Sangerville, previous to the year 1836, passed over the circuitous and hilly route leading by the schoolhouse in District No. ] , and Maple Grove Cemetery, to the center of Garland village. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 237 An Irate Citizen In the year 1817, the route for a county road to extend from Bangor to what is now western Piscataquis through the town of Garland having been established, the town commenced making its section of the road. Philip Greeley and William Godwin were a committee to take charge of the work. Mr. Godwin was, at this time, the owner of a tavern stand on the site now occu- pied by the buildings of the late William H. Knight, opposite the site of the Maple Grove Cemetery. The route as established would carry the travel about forty rods east of this tavern stand, thereby depriving Mr. Godwin of patronage. A slight change of route to accommodate Mr. Godwin was willingly made by the committee. In 1834, a change was made in the route which diverted the travel from western Piscataquis from Mr. Godwin's tavern stand. Mr. Godwin was greatly exasperated by this change and, as a measure of revenge, blocked up the section of road which had been illegally made across his land at his own request. Several young men living in the vicinity, willing to annoy an unpopular citizen, cleared the road on the fol- lowing night. Large logs were hauled across the road the next day and removed at night. This procedure was repeated until Mr. Godwin and his grown-up sons threatened to arm themselves and shoot the intruders, whereupon the selectmen of the town assumed the offen- sive, and brought a suit against Mr. Godwin for thus interrupting the local travel on a road which was much used by families living in the northwest part of the town. The decision was against Mr. Godwin, and he found himself in debt of inconvenient dimensions incurred bv the trial. But this was not to him the most mortifying 238 HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE feature in the case. He was brought face to face with the necessity of taking a contract in the making of the obnoxious road to secure money to pay in part the costs of defense. The town initiated the policy of allowing each school district to choose its own agent in 1835. It also instructed the selectmen to make lists of the scholars in the several districts. Division of the Ministerial Fund The question of an equitable division of the fund derived from the sale of the ministerial lands, among the several religious societies, became the occasion of a some- what acrimonious contention. At the annual meeting of 1835, it was voted to submit the matters in dispute to two disinterested men ; one of them should be named by the town, and the other by a representative of the sev- eral religious societies. Judge Seba French, a prominent citizen of Dexter, was chosen on the part of the town, and John B. Hill, Esquire, of Exeter, afterwards a prominent lawyer of Bangor, was chosen to act for the religious societies. Benjamin H. Oak was appointed to present the case in behalf of the town, and Elder Josiah Bartlett presented the case of the religious societies. A list of the male members of each society had been made by its clerk in 1829 and entered upon the town records. The names upon the Free Will Baptist list numbered forty-two and were: John Page, Jacob Quimby, Josiah Bartlett, James Powers, Amos Higgins, William Soule, HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE 239 Daniel Ladd, Enoch Clough, Enoch Rollins, Asa Soule, Mason Skinner, Lewis Soule, John Hamilton, Joseph Strout, Eliab Stewart, David Burton, Warner Taylor, Samuel W. Knight, Zebulon Knight, John Trefethen, Henry Amazeen, Cutteon F. Flanders, James J. Chandler, Rufus Inman, John E. Ladd, Jacob Staples, Benjamin Mayo, Isaiah Stillings, David Soule, Gideon Soule, Israel Colley, Fifield Lyford, Isaac F. Ladd, John Batchelder, William Rollins, Benjamin Page, John Soule, John B. Stevens, William Ladd, Nathaniel Emerson, Hiram Lyford, Jeremiah Ladd. Names on Congregational list numbered twenty-four: Isaac Wheeler, Joseph True, Samuel Johnson, Levi Johnson, Lewis Goulding, Joseph True, Jr., Ansel Field, James Parker, George Curtis, Abraham True, Charles Reynolds, Russell Murdock, Daniel M. Haskell, Justus Harriman, David Fogg, Jacob Greeley, Aaron Hill, John S. Haskell, Herbert Thorndike, Walter Holbrook, Brav Wilkins, John S. Fogg, William Godwin, Samuel Greeley. Universalists numbered nineteen : Ezekiel Straw, Zenas Flanders, Bildad A. Haskell, Reuben Bartlett, Jeremiah Flanders, Moses Gordon, 240 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Joshua Silver, Moses Buswell, Reuben Marrow, Daniel Moore, Edward Fifield, John Ha}res, Samuel P. Buswell, Jesse Straw, Solomon Soule, Amos G. Gordon, James Dinsmore, John Chandler, Eben Battles. The Calvinist Baptists numbered thirteen : Thomas S. Tyler, John Jackman, Hollis Mansfield, Amos Gordon, James March, Samuel Mansfield, Joseph Sargent, Robert Seward, Joseph Prescott, Benjamin Mayo, George W. Gordon, Shepherd Packard, Jonathan L. Haskell. The town records do not show what the action of the referees was in relation to the distribution of the minis- terial fund in 1835. There being no reference to it after this date, shows that their decision was regarded as final. The Aid of the Town to Some of Its Poorer Citizens There were industrious citizens among the early set- tlers of Garland who were still owing balances to the original proprietors of the township for their lands. By dint of persevering industry, they had cleared lands, erected buildings, and made improvements. All these things they had done through years of toil with the use of little money, but the debts they owed for their lands must be paid in money or its equivalent. They were forced to turn over their cattle to their creditors at HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 241 prices merely nominal to pay the interest on their debts. Some of our older citizens will remember the droves of cattle that were collected from year to year in this, and neighboring towns, and driven to Massachusetts to pay these interest debts. At a special meeting held April 18, 1835, the town voted to raise one hundred dollars to pay the balance due Calvin Sanger, one of the original proprietors of the township, by David Soule. By this generous act of the town, the home of Mr. Soule was saved to himself and family. Tragic Death of a Prominent Citizen "S Early in the morning of July 3, 1835, the Hon. Reuben Bartlett called his son Joseph, afterward editor of the Bangor Jeffersonian, to assist in starting some logs down the slope towards the saw-mill. Going directly to the mill, and starting a log downward toward the mill, he lost his balance and fell across it, when his coat sleeve was caught by a sharp knot, and he was thrown violently over and almost instantly killed by the rolling log. Joseph reached the mill yard just in season to witness the terrible accident. Mr. Bartlett emigrated from Nottingham, N. H., in 1820, having purchased the village mill property of Mr. Church. He was an energetic, enterprising and use- ful citizen. His mental qualities, and his experience in municipal affairs fitted him for leadership, and he became the leading citizen of the town from the first year of his residence in it. In his first year here, he was chosen chairman of an important committee, and the records show that he filled 242 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE one or more important offices each year during his fifteen years of residence in town. He was several times elected to one or the other branches of the State Legislature. In politics, Mr. Bartlett was an earnest and unwaver- ing Democrat. During his residence here of fifteen years, there were no defections in the Democratic ranks. As an able and wise counsellor, he was held in high esteem, and his death cast a gloom over the entire town. An Important Road Contemplated A geographical chart of the District of Maine, pub- lished in 1816, showed existing roads within the Province of Maine, also routes for roads that would be needed to meet the wants of advancing population. One of these routes extended from Bangor through the towns of Glen- burn, Levant, Exeter, Garland, Dexter, Sangerville, Guilford and Monson to Moosehead Lake, thence to the Canadian line. It was expected that this road would be opened by the proprietors of lands upon the route, and that it would prove of more importance than any other road in this section of Maine. But through the pressure of the need of roads to accommodate a more limited area, this larger scheme was held in abeyance until 1885. In 1835, a petition numerously signed, asked for a road, to be known as the Avenue Road, extending from Bangor to Moosehead Lake, through central Penobscot and western Piscataquis. This appears to have been a renewal of the old scheme of 1816. Garland had been heavily burdened with building roads. At a special meeting held September 24, 1835, the town appointed Moses Gordon, Ezekiel Straw, Bildad A. Haskell, James HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 243 J. Chandler and Daniel M. Haskell to appear before the commissioners in opposition to the road. The oppo- sition proved unavailing. The road was located and subsequently made. The First Meeting House in Garland Preliminary measures for the building of a meeting: house by the Congregational parish of Garland were entered upon in 1835. The parish was small and of limited resources. How to raise the necessary funds was a perplexing question. But inspired by the faith of that veteran pioneer missionary, the Rev. John Sawver, through whose efforts the Congregational church had been brought into existence twenty-five years earlier, the parish reached the decision to build. By the friendly aid of Charles P. Chandler, Esq., of Foxcroft, an act of incorporation was obtained from the Legislature, under which a company was formed with the title of "The Congregational Meeting House Company of Garland.'" A constitution and by-laws were adopted which provided that the stock should be divided into twenty-four shares of fifty dollars each, and that when eighteen shares had been taken, the site of the buildings should be determined, and the work of con- struction entered upon. There was considerable discussion respecting size and style of the building. All the members of the company were impressed with the necessity of economy of expendi- ture. Some favored a plain building, bare of belfry and steeple. Others expressed a different opinion. Lewis Goulding, a member of the church, who was always ready with a facetious remark, said that the purpose was 244 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE to build a house for God. Without belfry and steeple, the building would be God's barn, and not God's house. The size and st}de including belfry and steeple were at length determined and plans procured. Benjamin H. Oak was chosen treasurer and chairman of the build- ing committee. The other members of this committee were the Rev. John Sawyer and William Godwin. The prescribed amount of stock having been taken, Austin Newell of Monson, an experienced builder, was employed to take charge of the construction of the building. One of the by-laws forbade the use of any alcoholic drink by any person employed on the building, and that no such drink should be furnished at its raising. This action was in advance of the public sentiment of the times but the by-law was strictly observed. An incident worthy of record occurred at the raising of the building. The foundation timbers had been laid, and the timbers of the broad sides had been put in place and securely fastened together. Muscular men were ranged in close touch with each other the entire length of the broad side, awaiting in silence the command, "Pick him up," when the venerable Father Sawyer, then eighty-two years of age, suddenly appeai'ed with bared head, his long thin locks of snowy whiteness float- ing in the breeze, and offered a brief and earnest prayer for a successful and safe termination of the day's work, and that the building when completed might aid in the spread of the Gospel. During this digression, the men listened in reverential silence. This building, which had its beginning in 1835, was not completed until 1837. Mr. Newell, who had taken charge of the work in 1835, and had completed the out- side of the building before the close of the season, entered into a contract with the parish to finish it in the following year, but the cold of the late autumn compelled HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 245 him to await the warmer weather of the following spring to complete his contract. In the meantime, he entered into a contract with our well-remembered citizen, Isaac Fall, to complete the work of building, which was accomplished in the summer of 1837. Mr. Newell, after having paid bills for materials and work, and provided for the payment of Mr. Fall for the completion of the job, had eighteen dollars to show for his work in the season of 1836. The Meeting House Company, with credit to itself, made him a reasonable additional compensation. While the work on the building was in progress, it became apparent to the Meeting House Company that its cost would largely exceed the original estimate, to meet which was a perplexing problem. In their extrem- ity, kind friends of other places helped them. Father Sawyer, the original mover in the building, obtained aid to meet the deficiency from citizens of other places. Among these were S. J. Foster, George W. Ricker, S. Smith, George A. Thatcher, S. S. Crosby, J. W. Mason, W. D. Williamson, R. & R. Haskins & Co., D. M. McDougal, A. Davis, J. B. Fisk, J. Carr, Cram & Dutton, and McGaw of Bangor, also D. Barstow and Holyoke & Page of Brewer. Edward Hill of New York, a brother of Mrs. Josiah Merriam, was a liberal contributor. The dedication of the house, which was the occasion of great interest, occurred early in the season of 1837. The bell of the meeting house was purchased and placed in position in the year 1857. Many citizens outside the Congregational parish contributed to the purchasing fund. It was made by Meneely & Sons, who had the reputation of being the best manufacturers of bells in America. 246 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Garland in 1836 At the annual town meeting of 1836, held March 14, Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator; Stephen Smith, town clerk ; Daniel M. Haskell, Enoch Huntington and Joseph Prescott, selectmen; Benjamin H. Oak, treas- urer; James J. Chandler, collector, and Daniel M. Haskell, Alphonzo Adams and Ezekiel Page, superin- tending school committee. The town voted to raise two thousand five hundred dollars for the roads, three hundred and fifty dollars for schools and two hundred dollars to defray town charges. Benjamin H. Oak, Ezekiel Page, Enoch Huntington, Moses Gordon and Ezekiel Straw, were appointed to redistrict the town in the interest of the public schools and were instructed to report at the September meeting. The support of a female pauper was determined by auction, and she became an inmate of the family of the lowest bidder for the term of one year. The com- pensation for her support was eighteen dollars and fifty cents, and such assistance as she could give in the house- work of the family. This method of providing for the support of the poor soon became offensive to the moral sentiment of the people, and was early abandoned. A special meeting for town business was held Septem- ber 12, 1836. At this meeting, the committee appointed at the annual town meeting to redistrict the town in the interest of the public schools, reported in favor of some changes in existing districts, and the establishment of one or more new districts. The report of this committee was accepted. By virtue of this action, the town embraced eight school districts in 1836. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 247 Bears In the autumn of 1836, bears became more numerous and bold in their assaults upon growing crops. They seemed almost human in their partiality for green corn and, like humans of the baser sort, they committed their depredations under the cover of darkness. Influenced by the general badness of the bear, the town voted "that a premium of three dollars be awarded to any person residing in this town who shall kill a bear, and produce sufficient testimony of the fact to the treasurer of the town." Fall Elections of 1836 The balloting for State and other officers occurred September 12, when Robert P. Dunlap, Democrat, received seventy-six votes for governor. Edward Kent, Whig, received thirty-eight votes for governor. There were five trials to elect a representative to the State Legislature in the class which embraced Garland, and five failures to elect. Balloting for presidential electors occurred November 7, when the Democratic candidates received forty-nine votes each. Whig candi- dates received twenty-nine votes each. The candidates for President were Martin Van Buren, Democrat, and William K. Harrison, Whig. 248 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Garland in 1837 At the annual town meeting of 1837, held on March 18, Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Enoch Huntington, Ezekiel Straw and Luther Rideout, selectmen; Benjamin H. Oak, treasurer; Samuel W. Knight, collector, and Daniel M. Haskell, E. L. Norcross and Samuel Skillin, superintend- ing school committee. The town voted to raise four hundred and fifty dollars for schools, three thousand five hundred dollars for roads, three hundred and fifty dollars for town charges and sup- port of the poor. The premium of three dollars per head for the destruction of bears was continued. The care of the poor was delegated to the selectmen. The cemetery at West Garland was established in 1837, by vote of the town, and the land therefor was purchased of Mr. Lawrence and Russell Murdock. The ground was graded by the voluntary labor of the public spirited citizens of West Garland. Fall Elections The legal voters of the town balloted for State and other officers on the second Monday of September. For governor, Edward Kent, Whig, received eighty- six votes; Gorham Parks, Democrat, received eighty-five votes. For representative to the Legislature, David Harvey, Democrat, received eighty -nine votes ; Eleazer W. Snow, Whig, received eighty-five votes. MAINE 249 At a special meeting of the town held on the day of the fall elections, it was voted to petition the Legislature for the passage of a law to require each county in the State to make and repair all the roads within its limits. Also to "authorize the selectmen to petition the Legislature to amend the constitution (of the State) so that the compensation of all judicial officers, and their time of service, shall be placed within the reach of the people and subject to be altered at the pleasure of the Legislature. ' ' The legal voters balloted a second time on October 2 for representative to the Legislature, when Daniel Chase, Democrat, received eighty votes; Eleazer W. Snow, Whig, received eighty -four votes. On a third trial to elect a representative, Garland gave Daniel Chase, eighty-three votes; Eleazer W. Snow, seventy-five votes. A movement was made this year (1837) to divide Penobscot County, and to establish a new county to be known as Piscataquis County. The original purpose was to embody the tier of towns that embraced the town of Garland in the new countv. As the business relations of this tier of towns were almost solely with Bangor, its citizens were strongly opposed to incorporation with the proposed new county. At a special meeting held October 2, 1837, the town voted to remonstrate against division, and in case of division, to petition the Legislature to be left in the old county. The desire expressed in the petition was real- ized, and Garland still remains in the old countv. 250 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Hard Times The year 1887 was, to many citizens of Maine, a period of disappointment and hardship, engendered by wild speculation in Eastern lands. Some men had sud- denly become rich, but many more had lost the slowly acquired accumulations of years. The sufferers were mainly residents of cities and larger towns. Residents in the country towns had nothing to invest in speculative ventures and therefore lost nothing directly. As in other years, the farms that had been brought into a productive condition afforded the families of their owners a livelihood and means to pay current expenses. But there was a class of farmers who were beginning on new farms that were more seriously affected by the pre- vailing financial conditions. Mr. A. W. Straw, a well- known citizen of Bangor, who then was a boy in his father's home at Garland, gives the following narration. His father, Mr. James Straw, had purchased a new farm where he was struggling to support a large family. At the close of the spring's work he found that the family supplies were running short. He had no money. As in the case of his independent neighbors, credit would not avail for the purchase of food supplies. As the only resort, he took his two older boys, A. W. and James M. , into the cedar growth where the three, by several days of severe labor, made shingles enough to load a yoke of oxen. The shingles were loaded upon a wagon and the father, taking rations for himself and oxen from the scanty supply at home, started on his toilsome journey to Ban- gor, traveling by day, and sleeping under his wagon at night. The shingles were sold to Abner Taylor at one dollar HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 251 and fifty cents per thousand and, with the proceeds, he purchased supplies for his family, and returned home, having been absent four days and three nights. By industry and economy, the Straw family soon came into line with their more independent neighbors. Surplus Revenue For several years anterior to the year 1837, the reve- nues of the United States government were in excess of its expenditures. By an act of Congress this surplus was distributed to the several states, and by them, to the towns within their respective limits. The town of Gar- land promptly indicated its acceptance of the proffered gift. Charles Reynolds was appointed an agent by the town "to demand and receive from the State treasury the portion of said money belonging to the town of Garland," and was authorized to receipt therefor. In pursuance of instructions, Mr. Reynolds transferred this money, amounting to about two thousand dollars, from the State treasurv to the town treasury. An Elephant Now that the money was in the hands of the town, the question that confronted its citizens was — What shall we do with it? Men who had been blessed with large families, favored a per capita distribution. Men whose action was controlled by their sympathy for the 252 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE poor, favored the purchase of a home for that unfor- tunate class. Another class thought that it should constitute a fund, the interest of which should be used from year to year, for the benefit of the public schools. There were others who were in favor of loaning it in small sums to inhabi- tants of the town who desired to hire it. The last named proposition was adopted by a vote of the town. At a special meeting held March 11, 1837, Ezekiel Straw, Enoch Huntington and Jeremiah Flanders, were appointed a committee to invest Garland's share of the fund. This committee was instructed to lend it to inhabitants of Garland only, in sums ranging from fifty to one hundred dollars, on demand notes, drawing inter- est, each note to be indorsed by two responsible parties, freeholders, residing in the town, who were to be jointly and severally held with the principal for the payment of the notes, which were to run until the annual meeting of 1838. No person would be accepted as surety for more than $100. Borrowers were plenty, and the surplus fund soon dis- appeared from the treasury, notes payable on demand taking its place, with the understanding that demand for payment would be made on, or before, the date of the annual town meeting of 1838. As in the case of all promises to pay, the date for the payment of these notes came round with relentless punctuality to find a majority of the promisers were not ready to pay. At the annual town meeting of 1838, the men of large families came to the front and demanded that the fund should be dis- tributed to the inhabitants of the town per capita. This demand was carried by a vote of the town. The treasurer of the fund was directed to collect forthwith all that was still out on loan, and deposit it in the treasury. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 253 But it was soon discovered that it had been easier to lend money in 1837 than to collect it in 1838. The best efforts of the treasurer to collect proved unavailing. At a special meeting held May 5, 1838, the town voted to distribute two dollars and seven cents of the surplus fund to each individual enumerated in the census for the distribution of the said fund. This action involved the necessity of a special enumeration of the inhabitants of the town to fix the basis of distribution. Although the town had voted to pay each inhabitant two dollars and seven cents, it had made no provision to obtain the funds necessary to carry out the purposes of this vote. This neglect was followed by much excite- ment, to allay which a special meeting of the voters was held on the 14th of July, 1838, "To see if the town will hire one thousand dollars, or any other sum, and settle with individuals on account of the surplus fund or take any other method thought best when met.'' This proposition to hire one thousand dollars to pay the beneficiaries of the fund indicated approximately the sum that still remained uncollected. Upon the article, "To see if the town will hire one thousand dollars, or any other sum, and settle with individuals on account of the surplus fund," it was voted at the meeting of July 14, 1838, "That the treasurer is hereby empowered to hire on the credit of the town a sufficient sum of money to pay off the surplus fund debt before the annual meet- ing in September next." But the treasurer failed to accomplish the purpose of this vote. 254 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Garland in 1838 Meetings for town business were of frequent occurrence in 1838, some of which were barren of results. The officers of the town were Russell Murdock, moderator ; Nehemiah Bartlett, town clerk ; Enoch Huntington, Charles Reynolds and Samuel Skillin, selectmen ; Joseph True, Jr., treasurer; Samuel W. Knight, collector; and Daniel M. Haskell, Lyndon Oak and Asa Barton, super- intending school committee. The town appropriated five hundred dollars for schools, four hundred dollars for town charges, and two thousand dollars for highways. One hundred dollars, cash, was voted for the northwest county road. A special meeting was held on May 5, at which appli- cations of two new citizens, Solomon and Phineas Gee, emigrants from England, for a pro rata share of the surplus revenue fund were considered. These citizens, not having been naturalized, the applications were not granted. Various propositions for the location, repair and building of roads were acted upon adversely. Another special meeting was held on July 14, which was devoted mainly to considerations relating to roads. A road craze seemed to have settled upon the inhabitants of the town. At a special meeting held September 10, Samuel Skillin, Nehemiah Bartlett and Edward B. Holt were appointed to prepare plans, and to contract for the building of a bridge across the Kenduskeag Stream at Holt's Mills. The selectmen were again instructed to remonstrate against the annexation of Garland to the new county of Piscataquis, also to petition the Legisla- ture for a law requiring each county to build and keep in repair the county roads within its own limits. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 255 The annual State election of 1888 was held on Sep- tember 10. John Fairfield, Democratic candidate for governor, received one hundred and thirty votes; Edward Kent, Whig, received ninety votes. For representative to Congress, Thomas Davee, Democrat, received one hundred and thirty votes; John S. Tenney, Whig, received ninety votes. For representative to the Legislature, Joseph True, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty -nine votes ; Asa Barton, Whig, received ninety votes. The first movement for the building of a town hall was made in 1838. Under the lead of Joseph Bartlett, afterwards a prominent citizen of Bangor, and editor of The Jeffersonian, (newspaper) individuals offered to supply gratuitously a considerable amount of lumber for the construction of a building, whose roof should cover a room for a high school, and a hall for town business and public gatherings. But the plan was in advance of public sentiment and failed of realization. Garland's Artillery Company A company of artillery was organized in 1838 through the influence and active exertions of Col. John S. Kimball of Bangor, who at that time resided at Garland. Col. Kimball possessed an ardent military temperament, and much experience in military matters. He drew into the organization many of the most respectable inhabi- tants of the town of military age. He was the first captain of the company, and he succeeded in investing its members with a good degree of military pride. 256 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE He was succeeded in the captaincy of the company by Fifield Lyford, who in turn was followed by John S. Runnals. Some of its lieutenants were, A. M. Haskell, Isaac Fall and Ezekiel Page. A substantial building of ample dimensions was con- structed for an armory and drill hall. The State fur- nished two brass field-pieces whose deep intonations resounded through the town on public occasions, some- times awaking the sleepy inhabitants at unseasonable hours. The company was regarded with pride by the citizens of the town. It is regretted that the company rolls have not been saved so that a full list of its mem- bers could be given. A partial list embraces the follow- ing names : John S. Kimball, Leonard Skillin, Fifield Lyford, Noah Burnham, Ezekiel Page, Mark Burnham, M. C. Emerson, Luther Rideout, John P. Smith, Thomas Fifield, Richmond Osgood, Moody Bailey, A. M. Haskell, Lebbeus Oak, i, _l_iv-ui_»^uo vy«,iv, John S. Runnals, Stephen B. Dockham, Samuel Skillin, Albert Skinner. Josiah Skillin, A Foreign Venture '.*-> In the year 1838, Capt. Fifield Lyford, who owned the village mill property at Garland, conceived the plan of shipping to London a cargo of lumber of the descrip- tions known as bird's-eye maple and curly birch, which were sometimes used in the manufacture of furniture. HISTORY OF GAB.LAND, MAINE 257 The lumber was sawed at his mill, hauled to Bangor by team, and shipped to London. Capt. Lyford took passage in the same vessel to attend to the sale of the lumber. In due time the cargo arrived at London in good con- dition and was readily sold at good prices. Elated at his good fortune in the disposition of his cargo and the attentions of its generous purchaser, who showed him some of the sights of London, and possibly excited by a favorite beverage in which he sometimes indulged, he soared to the realm of a lofty idealism from which he disclosed to his new friend, areas of land of almost limit- less extent which were covered with magnificent forest growths. So realistic were his descriptions, that one could almost hear the cheery voices of his workmen, the ringing blows of their axes. Before leaving London, he ordered made and sent to him some costly articles for his personal use, one of which was a gun to cost one hundred dollars. On his return home, he gradually came from his dizzy height to a level with his neighbors. The one hundred dollar gun was received in due time, but finding that his pocketbook had collapsed, and that he could put it to no use commensurate with its cost, he returned it to the manufacturers. The Advent of the Martin Family On a pleasant spring morning of 1839, a procession of horse-carts of the Canadian pattern entered the vil- lage and moved slowly up the principal street. In the forward cart were a man, woman and two boys of tender age. The other carts contained furniture of humble 258 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE descriptions. A sight so unusual and, withal, so novel, in the quiet village of Garland, aroused the curiosity of the women, who were engaged in their spring house- cleaning, and of the girls and boys who were at their sports on the street. It must also be confessed that the more phlegmatic citizens of the male gender, though not so conspicuous on the street, were peering from win- dows of shop and store with unusual curiosity. In human affairs, each event can be traced to some antecedent cause of which it is the consequent; so the cause of the sudden appearance of the strangers in our village was soon developed. The procession halted in the center of the village, when the man inquired for Capt. Lyford, the great land owner. A troop of small boys rushed forth at the top of their speed in search of the doughty captain, who soon put in an appearance. Both men disclosed a large degree of surprise at the close of a brief conversation, and it will never be known which one was the more surprised. While in a state of high exaltation in London a year earlier, the Captain was introduced to a Mr. Martin, an accomplished bookkeeper, to whom he promised em- ployment if he would come to America. Now Mr. Martin, although an expert accountant and bookkeeper, could earn enough in his profession by close application to support his family, yet like other men of his class, his prospect for doing more than this in London at that time, was dubious. He soon became conscious of a purpose to emigrate to America, which, although weak at first gathered strength as the weeks rolled on, and ripened into determination. Early in the spring of 1839, he had saved enough to pay for the passage of himself and family to Canada, and thence to Maine. Mr. Martin was soon forced to HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 259 the painful consciousness that the great land owner was a myth. lie had spent his little all in getting here to find him- self among strangers, out of money, and destitute of emploj*ment. He was unfitted for any out of door labor. Fortunately he found shelter in the village for his family and furniture, but was soon destitute of food. Kind neighbors provided for their immediate wants. The attention of the town authorities was soon called to their condition and their needs were supplied by public, instead of private charity, for a brief time. "All is Well That Ends Well" Col. John S. Kimball, a former citizen of Bangor, was a resident of Garland at the date of the arrival of the Martin family. The condition of the family appealed to his sympathies and, with characteristic generosity, he obtained for him a situation as bookkeeper for Gen. Veazie of Bangor. The value of his services soon became known to the business men of that place, and he had no difficulty in finding employment as long as he remained there. A few years later, Gen. Veazie employed him as manager and salesman of a shipload of merchandise bound to California. Finding a demand for his services there, he sent for his family and became a resident of California. 260 Garland in 1839 At the annual town meeting of 1839, held March 11, the officers chosen were Russell Murdock, moderator ; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Charles Reynolds, Samuel Skillin and Nehemiah Bartlett, selectmen ; Joseph True Jr., treasurer; Nehemiah Bartlett, town agent; Asa Barton, Lyndon Oak and Rev. S. S. Drake, super- intending school committee, and James Greeley, collector of taxes, compensation three per cent. The town appropriated five hundred dollars for schools, six hundred dollars for town charges, and two thousand dollars for roads. As usual the town was road ridden. Of the thirty-one articles in the warrant calling the annual meeting of 1839, six related to town officers, four to appropriations, five to incidental matters and the remaining sixteen articles related to roads. At a special meeting, held September 9, of the eight prop- ositions acted on, five related to roads. The annual State election was held September 9. For governor, John Fairfield, Democrat, received one hundred and fourteen votes ; Edward Kent, Whig, received ninety- four votes. For representative to the Legislature, Zebulon Bradley, Democrat, received one hundred and fourteen votes ; Nathaniel Huckins, Whig, received ninety-three votes. At a special meeting held on the day of the State election, the following question was submitted to the voters of the towns of the State: "Shall the constitu- tion of the State be so amended as to strike out the fourth section of the sixth article and substitute in the room thereof the words following, viz: Section fourth: HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 261 All judicial officers now in office, or who may be ap- pointed hereafter, shall from, and after the first day of March in the year of our Lord 1840 hold their offices for the term of seven years from the time of their re- spective appointments (unless sooner removed by im- peachment, or by address of both branches of the Legis- lature to the Executive) and no longer unless re- appointed thereto." Upon this question the town gave one hundred and thirteen affirmative, and twenty-five negative votes. At a special meeting, held December 9, 1839, Asa Barton, Samuel W. Knight, and James J. Chandler were appointed a committee to receive offers for the sale of a farm suitable for a home for the unfortunate poor, and were instructed to report to the town at the annual meeting of 1840. Upon the report of this committee, it was voted that Asa Barton, James J. Chandler, Enoch Huntington, Jeremiah Flanders and Daniel M. Haskell be a committee to purchase a farm whereon to support the poor. But this committee was hedged by limita- tions which frustrated the well-meant attempt to benefit an unfortunate class of our citizens. Garland in the Aroostook War To the inhabitants of Garland and other towns in eastern Maine, the exciting event of 1839 was the call for men to defend the territory contiguous to New Brunswick which was claimed by both that province and the State of Maine. The origin of the dispute between the two sections was the indefiniteness of the terms by which the dividing line had been described in the treaty £62 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE of 1783, between the United States and Great Britain. The crisis came in 1889. Early in that year, the Governor of Maine, John Fairfield, was officially notified that citizens of New Brunswick were plundering the dis- puted territory of its best timber. The Governor immediately dispatched the sheriff of Penobscot County, Hastings Strickland, with a posse numbering one hundred and fifty to two hundred men to drive the plunderers off. The sheriff started from Bangor with his posse on the 5th day of February. The plunderers, three hundred in number, having been apprized of the sheriff's approach, broke into the arsenal at Woodstock, armed themselves with muskets and assumed a defensive attitude, but, hearing that the sheriff's posse had a six pounder cannon they prudently retired to a point within British territory. At this juncture, a conference was held at the tavern of one Fitzherbert which was participated in by Land Agent Mclntire and his friends, G. G. Cushman and Colonel Webster of Orono, on the one side, and a Mr. McLaughlin, British warden of the disputed territory, and a few friends on the other. During the following night the land agent and his friends were seized by a party of forty armed men and carried on an ox-sled to Woodstock, where they were com- mitted to the Frederickton jail. On Februai-y 14th Sheriff Strickland suddenly reappeared in Bangor, having performed the journey from the "seat of war" by a wild ride of two days, which had been facilitated by relays of horses at regular intervals. His rapid and dramatic recital of the events had, together with the exciting news of the day following (Feb. 15th,) of the treacherous seizure of our land agent and his companions and the humiliating treatment they had received, raised 263 the war spirit to a fever heat. Measures for the rescue of the prisoners were immediately adopted. Two days later an event occurred which rendered the execution of these measures unnecessary. On Sunday, Feb. 17th, the Houlton stage brought in as prisoner the British land warden, McLaughlin, who participated in the parley at Fitzherbert's. He was attended by a guard of stalwart men, one of whom was John Tarbox of Garland. The news of the arrival of McLaughlin spread through the city like wildfire. In an incredibly short time the streets were filled with spectators eager to see the Britisher. The weather being cold the warden was protected by a large bearskin overcoat, which in the heated state of the popular sentiment, made it easy to transform the man into the animal whose skin he wore. With a vivid remembrance of the treatment awarded our land agent and his friends, Mr. McLaughlin feared violence at the hands of the crowd. He was, however, provided with quarters at the Bangor House and kindly treated during his stay. The events which have been narrated came upon the people of this section with startling suddenness. Less than two weeks had elapsed since they received the first intimation of the danger of a rupture between the United States and Great Britain in consequence of the northeastern boundary dispute. But it had assumed a serious aspect. Major General Hodsdon issued orders on February 17th for a draft of one thousand men from the eastern division of the Maine militia who were required to appear at Bangor on Tuesday, the 19th inst. In this division were four companies of artillery,- — one each at Bangor, Garland, Lincoln and Orland. The requisition upon this company at Garland was for thirty-two men. On Monday, February 18th, the artil- lery men were drawn up in line in the center of the village 264 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE and a call was made for volunteers. A few young men, who had no families to leave behind, responded. A draft was then resorted to to secure the full number required. The personnel of the quota was as follows: Daniel M. Haskell, Wm. Haskell, Gardiner Smith, Luther Rideout, Ezekiel Page, John P. Smith, Thos. B. Fifield, Daniel E. Fifield, Moody Bailey, John S. Runnals, Joseph Bartlett, Isaac Wheeler, Jr., Hiram F. Godwin, Stephen B. Dockham, Samuel Bridge, Micah C. Emerson, Charles Haskell, Andrew M. Haskell, J. B. Reed, Samuel Knight, Fifield Lyford, Artemas Merriam, Robt. P. Davis, Jedediah Kimball, Zenas Bartlett, Giles Straw, Samuel A. Hamilton, Albert Skinner, Mark Burnham, John Batchelder, Horace Batchelder and John C. Ladd. Of the four companies the Garland company furnished the largest number, in which were many of the leading citizens of the town. Its present citizens may be pardoned, if while recounting these names, they indulge in a feeling of pride regarding the character of their quota. The men were drafted on the afternoon of Monday and after spending a few hours in arranging their busi- ness affairs they took hasty leave of their families and presented themselves at Bangor on the following day. They were mustered into service Wednesday, February 20 th. The quotas of the four companies, numbering about eighty men, formed a battalion which went into quarters at City-Point Block. After a stop of two days for necessary preparations, they started on their long march to the frontier. The route determined on was up the Penobscot River to Moluncus, thence to the Aroostook River by way of Patten, and from there on the ice to Fort Fairfield. In the march to Patten the company HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 265 was quartered at night at the following places : Milford, Lincoln and Moluncus, reaching Patten at the end of the fourth day. On the morning of the fifth day the march towards the Aroostook River was resumed, but it was arrested at an early hour by the appearance of a courier with the information that the ice on the Aroos- took had been submerged by a freshet, rendering travel on that river impracticable. The battalion was ordered to return to Moluncus. On the return march, it camped at night at Benedicta. Here some of the privates pur- chased a rooster for amusement. This bird, following the fortunes of the battalion in all its subsequent marches, may be regarded as a prototype of the war eagle, "Old Abe," which followed the fortunes of a Wisconsin regiment through the War of the Rebellion. He soon became familiar with military life and partici- pated in its excitements. When the big guns thundered he would instantly mount his perch, spread his wings and crow to the extent of his capacity, which was not small. He soon became the pet of the battalion. From Moluncus to Houlton the march was on the military road, the battalion encamping one night be- tween the two places, and Houlton was reached at the end of eight days' march from Bangor. It remained there about two weeks. At Houlton an incident occurred which afforded much amusement. A ruse was planned by some of the officers to determine whether the night guard was attentive to its duties. A cannon had been placed in position just outside the barracks. On the night of the execution of the plan, our well known and honored townsman, Daniel M. Haskell, was officer of the guard. At an hour when sleep was supposed to have the fullest control of its subjects, the attention of the officer was called to a slight noise in the vicinity of the cannon. Rushing %66 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE outside to find the cause, a man was seen retreating in great haste into the surrounding darkness. The officer stepped inside to await developments. The disturbance was soon repeated. Instantly stepping out he found himself in close proximity to a man, the shortness of whose limbs put him at disadvantage in the race. The pursuer came up with him as he was scaling a fence and grabbing him, soon brought him to bay, when he was surprised to find that he had captured the good-natured Major of the battalion. On their way together towards the barracks, they found the cannon moving away from its position. The officer soon overtook it and cutting the rope by which it was hauled, brought it to a dead stop. Another officer of the artillery, a man of gigan- tic size, tried to run the guard the same night and found himself in the clutches of two privates where he was held much against his will until the officer of the guard leisurely ordered his release. There is no account of attempts by the officers to further test the fidelity of the night guard. The sudden death of a citizen of Garland, Calvin S. Wheeler, who was not connected with the battalion, occurred during the encampment at Houlton. His remains were attended home by his brother, Isaac Wheeler, and his cousin, Wm. S. Haskell. After a stop at Houlton of about two weeks the battalion was ordered to Fort Fairfield which was reached by a march of three days. The first night's encampment was at Bridgewater and the second at Presque Isle. Quarters for the soldiers were in readi- ness. While at this place the daily routine was much the same as at Houlton. Men were detailed to assist in the construction of a building for a storehouse and officers' quarters. Military drills and guard duties were of HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 267 everv-dav occurrence. The monotony of camp life was mitigated by such amusements as could be devised. Many of the superior officers were on terms of pleasant intimacy with the soldiery when off duty. Major General Hodsdon was accustomed to drop into the soldiers' quarters and chat familiarly with the men. Among the games prohibited was card playing. On one evening when the interdicted game was briskly going on at several points, General Hodsdon made a sudden appearance at the entrance of the quarters. The cards were instantly brushed aside, and the players, with an air of great innocence, were zealously joining in a camp song which had been going on. After spending an hour in familiar conversation with officers and privates the General arose to retire. On reaching the door he turned and bidding them a pleasant good night, left with the admonition, "Don't sing too late boys. '! Affairs at the Fort went on from day to day in even flow, but the flow of sleep was suddenly interrupted on one occasion. At midnight the faint report of a musket from the picket-guard down by the river was heard. Instantly crack, crack, crack, came from a dozen muskets in the hands of as many guards. The artillery men sprang from their beds into their clothing and formed in line on the parade-ground. The Dexter riflemen were in line in front of them. The night was intensely cold and the men impatiently awaited orders to move. Presently the riflemen started on a brisk march towards the river. Through a misapprehension of orders, the artillery followed. They had moved only a short dis- tance when thev were confronted bv General Hodsdon who sharply demanded their reason for moving without orders. Private Kimball of the Garland company instantly replied, "to gather up the riflemen's boots as fast as they are killed." As the movement was the 268 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE result of a false alarm to test the mettle of the men, Private Kimball escaped the reprimand he might other- wise have received. Both companies were ordered back into line on the parade-ground, when, the roll being called, every man was found to be present. General Hodsdon briefly addressed them, telling them an amus- ing story to illustrate the contrast between their behavior, and that he had witnessed at another time and place, where men (?) upon a similar call had secreted them- selves in chimneys and ovens. He complimented them highly for their promptness in answering the call and bade them a kind good night. The men fled to their berths with as much alacrity as the}7 had manifested a little earlier in answering the call to arms. The imbroglio engendered by the northeastern boundary dispute was now nearing its close. There had been proclamations and counter-proclamations by the parties to the dispute, and marchings and counter- marchings by the soldiery on both sides. Among civil- ians, the war spirit had ebbed and flowed at intervals. Early in March, General Scott appeared on the scene in behalf of the United States government, and imme- diately commenced negotiations for the peaceable adjust- ment of the questions in dispute. He opened corres- pondence with Sir John Harvey, Governor of New Brunswick, from whom he obtained concessions which were accepted by our State authorities. This was fol- lowed in due time bv a recall of the war forces at the front. The date of the recall was about the 10th of April. On the 17th of April the troops reentered Bangor. The pet rooster, which had been purchased at Benedicta on the march to the front, still adhered to the fortunes of the artillery. On the march homeward he had been gaily decked in a scarlet uniform, and upon the entrance HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 269 of the troops into the city he mounted his perch on the top of the ammunition carriage and defiantly turned his head towards the enemy's country amid the plaudits of the crowds on the streets. The troops went into quarters on Thomas Hill. While awaiting payment and discharge the artillery occasionally marched down town in ranks. On one occa- sion by the invitation of the leading business men one of the field-pieces was taken down to the square at the foot of Hammond street to give an exhibition of one phase of artillery practice. The piece was loaded on Exchange street and drawn back by the horses at a vio- CD J lent gait and discharged in the square. This was repeated several times ; but every discharge of the can- non brought down a shower of glass from the windows in the neighborhood. This kind of practice soon became distasteful even to its projectors, and was discontinued after a few sample rounds. On the 23d day of April, the artillery men were paid off and discharged, having had sixty-three days' service. Of the thirty-two men who went from the artillery company there was only one substitute. It was a body of men who would command the respect of any com- munity. One of them, a teacher in our schools, after- wards became a prominent citizen of Bangor and the editor of an influential newspaper. Many of them were afterwards prominent in town affairs, and four of them have represented the towns of their class in the lower branch of the Legislature. Our well known townsman, Stephen D. Jennings, who has long been a resident of Garland, went to the front with that fine military organization, the Dexter Rifle Company, being at that time a citizen of Dexter. In addition to the thirty-two men from the company of artillery, seven men were drafted from the militia for 270 service in the Aroostook War. Among these were Aaron Hill, Amos Gordon, Nehemiah Bartlett 1st, Peter Pills- burv and William French. Of these, the first two were represented by substitutes. The others went to the Aroostook. Benjamin Garland, John Tarbox, and per- haps others went to the front in the sheriff's posse. It was a dizzAr whirl of events that intervened between the call for one thousand men and the date of the march for the front. The call was made on February 17th; the men of the company were notified to appear for draft on the morning of the 18th; the draft was made on the afternoon of the same day ; the drafted men pre- sented themselves at Bangor on the 19th, were mustered into service on the 20th and started on the march to the front on the 21st. Happily they were not called on to do any fighting, but when fighting seemed inevitable there was no flinching. Growth From 1830 to 1840 During the period intervening between 1830 and 1840, the town had been fairly prosperous. The popu- lation had increased from six hundred and thirty-one to one thousand and sixty-five, an increase of more than sixty-five per cent. The growth of the village during the same period had been slow. In 1840, there were only fifteen families within the present village. This slow growth was largely due to the fact that eligible building lots were held at a price, or hampered by con- ditions that repelled those who desired to make homes therein. Among the events of this period, were the rebuilding of the long bridge in 1830, the rebuilding of the grist- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 271 mill by Reuben Bartlett, the designation of the month of March for holding future annual meetings for town business, the accident that terminated the life of Gar- land's most prominent citizen, the Hon. Reuben Bartlett, the division among the different religious soci- eties of the unappropriated ministerial fund, the build- ing of the Avenue road, the five trials to elect a rep- resentative to the Legislature, and the heavy fall of snow in November, 1836, the acquisition by the town of its share of the surplus revenue, the severe, and oft recurring burdens of road making, the hardships engen- dered by the dearth of money, the completion and dedi- cation of the Congregational meeting house, and the beginning of the pastorate of the Rev. Samuel S. Drake over the Congregational church in 1837, the organization of a company of artillery in 1838, and the call for men for the defense of our territory adjoining New Bruns- wick in 1839. Garland in 1840 At the annual meeting of 1840, held March 9, Russell Murdock was chosen moderator; Charles Reynolds, town clerk ; Daniel M. Haskell, Enoch Huntington and Ezekiel Page, selectmen and assessors, and Asa Barton, Rev. S. S. Drake and Lyndon Oak, superintending school committee. David Skillin was chosen collector and treasurer, and was instructed to discount six per cent, upon all taxes paid on, or before, the first day of August, four per cent, on taxes paid on, or before, the first day of Novem- ber and two per cent, on taxes paid on, or before Febru- 272 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE ary 1, 1841, and to collect forthwith all taxes unpaid at the last mentioned date, either by himself or deputy. Appropriations in 1840 Appropriations for 1840 were six hundred dollars for schools, one thousand two hundred dollars for town charges, two hundred and fifty dollars to support the poor, two thousand dollars for making and repairing roads to be paid in labor, and a cash appropriation of one hundred and fifty dollars for same purpose. High taxes had become the cause of serious complaint. Almost every taxpayer seemed to believe that his taxes were relatively higher than those of his neighbor's. So general was the complaint that a citizen of waggish tendencies got an article inserted in the call for the annual meeting of 1840 "to see if the town will vote to let every man assess his own taxes." Fall Elections, 1840 The annual State election was held September 14. For governor, John Fifleld, Democrat, received one hundred and fifteen votes. Edward Kent, Whig, received ninety-nine votes. For representative to Congress, Hannibal Hamlin, Democrat, received one hundred and fifteen votes. Elisha H. Allen, Whig, received ninety-nine votes. For representative to the Legislature, Levi Bradley, HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 273 Democrat, received one hundred and fifteen votes. E. T. Morrill, Whig, received ninety-nine votes. There having been no election for representative to the Legislature at first trial, a second trial occurred October 5, when Levi Bradley received one hundred and nine votes. E. T. Morrill received ninety votes. The presidential election of 1840 was held on Novem- ber 2. The candidates were William H. Harrison, Whig, and Martin Van Buren, Democrat. The Harrison electors received one hundred and one votes, and the Van Buren electors received one hundred and twenty-four votes. In the country at large there was a majority for William H. Harrison. Garland in 1841 At the annual town meeting of 1841, held March 8, Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator; Charles Reynolds, town clerk ; Daniel M. Haskell, Samuel W. Knight and Joseph True, selectmen and assessors ; Asa Barton, Joseph Bartlett and Rev. Samuel S. Drake, superintending school committee, and David Skillin, collector and treas- urer. The compensation for collecting and disbursing was fixed at two and one half per cent. The appropriations were six hundred dollars for schools, two hundred dollars for the support of the poor, six hundred dollars to defray town charges, two thousand dollars to make and repair roads, to be paid in labor, also cash appropriations of two hundred dollars to be expended on the northwest county road, one hundred and twenty-five dollars for the Avenue road, two hundred dollars for the county road leading to Dover, and fifty 274 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE dollars for a town road in the southeast part of the town. At a special meeting held September 13, of the twelve items of business acted on, seven related to roads. The Fall Election of 1841 The election for State and other officers was held Sep- tember 13. For governor, John Fairfield, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty-three votes ; Edward Kent, Whig, received one hundred and four votes. For representative to the Legislature, Charles Reynolds, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty- three votes; David Skillin, Whig, received one hundred and two votes; Josiah Bartlett, Anti-Slavery, received three votes. It will be seen that in the year of grace, 1841, a new element appeared in the politics of Garland. It was significant that this element began to manifest itself, feebly, indeed, in nearly all the voting precincts of the free states. This class of voters, together with many others, who were not readv to sever the ties that bound them to old political parties, believed in their simplicity, that the asseverations embodied in the declaration of independence, "that all men are created free and equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi- ness," were not simply rhetorical flourishes or glittering generalities as politicians would have them believe, but eternal verities. The cardinal article of the creed of this new party was unalterable opposition to the further encroachments HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE 275 of slavery upon the free territory of the United States. It was not a popular party in its infancy. Its votes were classed as scattering in the papers which meant — thrown away. It was stigmatized as "the party of one idea.'' Nevertheless, the force of this one idea elected Abraham Lincoln to the presidency a few years later, and this event was soon followed by the banishment of the curse of slavery from the United States. The Avenue Road At a special meeting of the town of 1841, held Sep- tember 11, the question of building the Avenue road came up for final action. The town had remonstrated against laying it out, had petitioned for its discontinu- ance, had pursued a dilatory policy in making it. In view of the delay, the county commissioners decided to appoint an agent to do the work, whereupon the town voted to instruct the selectmen to begin the making of it, and to complete it by the first of October, 1842. This was satisfactory to the commissioners who refrained from further action. Garland in 1842 At the annual meeting of 1842, held March 14, Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk ; Nehemiah Bartlett, John I. D. Sanford and David Skillin, selectmen and assessors; Nehemiah Bartlett, treasurer; Rev. Samuel S. Drake, Lorenzo Oak 276 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE and Daniel M. Haskell, superintending school commit- tee and Luther Rideout, collector, whose compensation was fixed at two per cent. The appropriations were six hundred dollars for schools, one hundred and fifty dollars for the support of the poor, four hundred dollars to defray town charges, and two thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. Also cash appropriations of two hundred dollars for the Dover county road, eight hundred dollars for the Avenue road, and one hundred and fifty dollars for road at Holt's Mills. Fall Election of 1842 The annual election for State and other officers was held September 12. For governor, John Fairfield, Democrat, received one hundred and five votes; Edwin Robinson, Whig, received fifty-two votes; James Appleton, Anti-Slavery, received twenty votes. On and after 1842, Exeter and Garland constituted a Representative class. For representative to the Legis- lature, Smith Libbey, Democrat, of Exeter, received one hundred and three votes; S. M. Rice, Anti-Slavery, of Garland, received eight votes. As no Whig vote appears at this trial, there seems to have been some irregularity of proceeding. A second trial to elect a representative to the Legislature was made on October 3, 1842, when Smith Libbey, Demo- crat, received twenty-one votes; John Cutler, Whig, received seventeen votes; Benjamin Evans, Anti Slavery, received nine votes. There was no election of representatives at this trial. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 277 A third trial to elect a representative to the Legislature occurred on the 24th of October, when Smith Libbey, Democrat, of Exeter, received forty-eight votes; Benjamin Evans, Anti-Slavery, of Exeter, received twenty-five votes. Mr. Libbey was now the successful candidate. A Notable Anti-Slavery Meeting Nearly every member of the two leading churches of Garland, the Congregational and Free Baptist, was strongly anti-slavery in sentiment. In the autumn or early winter of 1842, two prominent citizens of Bangor, afterwards known as Judge John E. Godfrey and Hon. A. G. Wakefield, came to Garland to address its citizens in behalf of the anti-slaverv movement. The meeting was held in the Congregational meeting house which was crowded by eager listeners of Garland and Exeter to the earnest appeals in behalf of the victims of African slavery. Garland in 1843 At the annual meeting of 1843, held March 13, the officers chosen were Joseph Prescott, moderator ; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Daniel M. Haskell, Asa Barton and Joseph Prescott, selectmen and assessors ; Nehemiah Bartlett, treasurer; Rev. Samuel S. Drake, Asa Barton and Lorenzo Oak, superintending school committee ; Luther Rideout, collector of taxes at two per cent. 278 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The appropriations were five hundred dollars for schools, one hundred and fifty dollars to support the poor, two hundred dollars for town charges, two thous- and five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, and cash appropriations of one hundred dollars to pay bills incurred the preceding year on the Dover county road. The care of the poor was placed in the hands of the selectmen. The meeting to ballot for governor and other officers was held September 11. For governor, Hugh J. Anderson, Democrat, received ninety-eight votes; Edwin Robinson, Whig, received thirty-three votes; James Appleton, Anti-Slavery, received forty-four votes. For representative to Congress, Hannibal Hamlin, Democrat, received one hundred votes ; Elisha H. Allen, Whig, received thirty-three votes; David Shepherd, Anti-Slavery, received forty-four votes. The contest for representative to the Legislature in 1843 was the most remarkable of any in the history of the town. Garland and Exeter constituted a representa- tive class. Each town furnished the candidate for legislative honors on each alternate year, and Garland was the privileged town in 1843. It had been Demo- cratic for many years, and Democratic nominees had been sure of large majorities. The contest opened on the day of the gubernatorial election when Nehemiah Bartlett, Democrat, received seventy-one votes; Luther Hideout, Democrat, received thirty-three votes; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received thirty-one votes; John P. Smith, Liberty party, received forty-one votes. No choice. At the second trial, October 2, Luther Rideout, Democrat, received seventy-two votes ; Nehemiah Bartlett, Democrat, received sixty-eight votes ; John P. Smith, Liberty party, received eleven votes. No choice. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 279 At the third trial, October 23, Nehemiah Bartlett, Democrat, received ninety votes; Luther Rideout, Dem- ocrat, received eighty-six votes; John P. Smith, Liberty party, received thirteen votes. No choice. At the fourth trial, November 13, Nehemiah Bartlett received ninety-eight votes; Luther Rideout received sixty-nine votes ; Lewis Goulding received twenty-three votes. No choice. At the fifth trial, December 4, Nehemiah Bartlett received one hundred and three votes ; Luther Rideout received eighty-three votes; Lewis Goulding, Liberty party, received fourteen votes. No choice. At the sixth trial, the leading Democratic candidates having withdrawn, Charles Reynolds, Democrat, received eighty votes ; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received sixty- eight votes. No choice. At the seventh trial, January 15, 1844, Charles Reynolds, Democrat, received sixty-eight votes; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received sixty-three votes. No choice. At the eighth trial, February 5, 1844, Lyndon Oak, Liberty party, received thirty votes; Charles Reynolds, Democrat, received twenty-nine votes; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received twenty-eight votes. No choice. At the ninth and final trial, February 26, 1844, Lyndon Oak, Liberty party, received thirty-two votes; Charles Reynolds, Democrat, received thirteen votes ; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received five votes. An examination of the result of the ballotings in the two towns, Garland and Exeter, disclosed the fact of Mr. Oak's election. The legislative session of 1844 was nearing its close. As soon as the necessary creden- tials were placed in his hands, he started for Augusta. This was before the time of railroads, and the journey 280 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE was made with horse and sleigh and occupied a part of two days. On Thursday of the week of his election, he was duly qualified and took the seat assigned him in the Repre- sentative hall. He believes himself to have been the first representative in the Legislature of Maine who was elected on the straight anti-slavery issue. Owing no allegiance to either political party, he was at all times free to act as his own judgment dictated. He was some- times asked in a spirit of derision when we might expect the abolition of slavery would be realized. His reply in substance was, that there might be a long period of waiting for the event, but it was sure to come. It proved to be much nearer than the most sanguine antici- pated. As a member of the House of Representatives of 1865, Mr. Oak had the satisfaction of voting for the ratification of the thirteenth amendment of the consti- tution of the United States, which banished the curse of African slavery from this country, and from all places within its jurisdiction. There were incidents connected with the protracted contest for the election of representative in 1843-4 that created considerable amusement for the younger voters. One of the candidates for legislative honors was so con- fident of success, he had purchased a suit of clothes befitting the position he expected to occupy, and had engaged a team to carry him to Augusta. The Rebuilding of the Long Bridge At a special meeting held October 23, 1843, prelimi- nary measures for rebuilding the long bridge near the HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE 281 village mills were adopted. The contract for rebuilding was awarded to a company of three citizens of the town, John Tewksburv, James Pillsburv and Orison Parkman. The timber for the bridge was hauled the following win- ter, and it was built in the summer of 1844. Although not an elegant structure, the average cost per year for repairs has been very light. A Remarkable Religious Fanaticism About the year 1 840, a Mr. William Miller appeared in eastern Maine to apprise its inhabitants of the early coming of Jesus. He asserted that the first judgment would come in 1843. The enunciation of this theory in 1840, produced much excitement which grew in intensity as the fateful year of 1843 approached, when it reached its culmination. The more indigent victims of this belief, reasoned that if all things earthly are to terminate in 1843, all we need to do is to provide ourselves with supplies for the intervening two years. When, in 1843, the great day was believed to be near, this class, having been reduced to absolute want, quartered themselves upon their more independent friends for subsistence. Thus large numbers of men, women and children were brought together under a single roof where the most grotesque religious performances were indulged in. If, at the midnight hour, a mere child expressed a desire to be baptized, the whole company promptly appeared at the water's side to participate in the ceremony. It was not uncommon for a zealous member of the sect to be bap- tized several times. On such occasions, many of them 282 HISTORY OF GAELAND, MAINE disported themselves in the water in a manner not fully in accord with the solemnity which is expected at such times. Some of the more thoughtful and more confident, spent their leisure in making ascension robes to be used on the occasion of their "going up." One of its dev- otees, a Mr. — — became a citizen of the town early in the thirties, wrested a farm from the forest, and provided for himself and family a good home. By industry, economy, and good judgment, he had taken rank with our most independent and esteemed citizens, and had been called to fill the most important town offices from time to time. But strange as it may seem, he found himself struggling in the current of Millerism and his home became the headquarters of its devotees where everything from cellar to attic, and in ell, shed and barn, was held in common. When the col- lapse came it brought with it the consciousness of a terrible mistake, a loss of self-respect, and of courage and of hope. He soon became the victim of inherited consumptive tendencies, and passed from earth in a different manner from that which he expected a few brief years earlier. The disastrous results to the one victim that have been narrated were experienced by others. Several who had been enjoying a comfortable independence, were reduced to poverty by the same process. The tendency of this delusion to pauperism led to the adoption of legal measures by the municipal authorities, to rid the town of irresponsible leaders from other towns. The Rev. Leonard Hutchins, pastor of the Free Baptist church and society, gave a semi-centennial address before that organization in 1875, in which he alluded to the disastrous effects of Millerism. After speaking of a period of universal prosperity, he says, "It HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 283 was interrupted by a season of severe trial. Many members abandoned the church and its ordinances, to enter the ranks of a sect which professed to believe that the second coming of Christ was an event to be looked for in the near future. Indeed the exact date for this great event had been determined in the councils of heaven and recorded in the books of prophecy. "Some of the devotees of Millerism assumed the posi- tion of open enmity to the church and to the religion to which they had solemnly pledged fidelity. This con- dition of affairs resulted in great distraction to the church for several years. By the exercise of wisdom and forbearance by the church, the greater portion of those who had violated their church obligations, returned to it, while the more stubborn persisted in their recreancy to their church obligations, and were at length excom- municated." Garland in 1844 At the annual meeting of 1844 the officers chosen were Joseph Prescott, moderator; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Daniel M. Haskell, Joseph Prescott and Luther Rideout, selectmen; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; and John P. Smith, collector. The compensation of the treasurer was fixed at four mills per dollar, and that of collector at two per cent. Rev. S. S. Drake and Lorenzo Oak were chosen superintending school committee. The appropriations for the year were four hundred and fiftv dollars for schools, one thousand dollars for town charges, one hundred and fifty dollars for the poor, two thousand and five hundred dollars for roads to be paid in labor, and a cash appropriation for the Avenue road. 284 HISTORY OF GARLAND MAINE Daniel Ladd, Enoch Huntington and Russell Murdock were appointed a committee to redistrict the town in the interest of the public schools. The treasurer was instructed to hire five hundred dollars for use of the town at a rate of interest not to exceed five per cent. Autumnal Election The balloting for State and other officers occurred September 9. For governor, Hugh J. Anderson, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty votes; Edward Robinson, Whig, received fifty-three votes ; James Appleton, Liberty party, received fifty-seven votes. For representative to Congress, Hannibal Hamlin, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty-one votes; Abraham Sanborn, Whig, received forty-nine votes ; Asa Walker, Liberty party, received fifty -six votes. For State Senator, Samuel W. Knight, Liberty party, received fifty-four votes. For representative to the Legislature, Chas. Butters, Democrat, received one hundred and sixteen votes; John L. Hodsdon, Whig, received fifty-five votes; Albana Pease, Liberty party, received fifty-six votes. The Legislature of 1844 submitted to the towns of the State the following question: "Shall the Constitution of Maine be so amended as to make the political year begin on the second Wednesday in May instead of the first Wednesday in January?" Garland's vote on this ques- tion was seventy-three in favor, and four against. Upon the proposed amendment to establish town courts, the result was thirty-six in favor, and forty- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 285 eight against. The voters of the town assembled on November 11 to ballot for presidential electors. The Democratic candidates received one hundred and eleven, the Whig candidates forty-seven, and the Liberty party candidates thirty-five votes. Garland in 1845 At the annual meeting of 1845, held March 10, Russell Murdock was chosen moderator ; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk ; Daniel M. Haskell, Luther Rideout and Stephen D. Jennings, selectmen and assessors ; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; and John P. Smith, collector. The compensation of treasurer was fixed at four mills per dollar, and that of the collector at two per cent. Moses G. Gordon, Jacob W. Haskell and Jonathan C. Lawrence were chosen superintending school committee. The appropriations were five hundred dollars for schools, three hundred dollars for the poor, four hundred dollars for town charges, and six thousand five hundred and fifty dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. The treasurer was instructed to hire five hundred dollars at a rate not exceeding five per cent. Annual State Election Of the annual State election of 1845, held September 8, the records disclose the following results: For governor, Hugh J. Anderson, Democrat, received eighty-nine votes ; Freeman H. Morse, Whig, thirty-one 286 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE votes; Samuel Fessenden, Anti-Slavery, received forty- five votes. For representative to the Legislature, Stephen D. Jennings, Democrat, received fifty-eight votes; Luther Rideout, Democrat, received twenty-nine votes; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received twenty-six votes; Lyndon Oak, Anti-Slavery, received forty-five votes. The factional contest of 1843 was renewed and the result compared with that at Exeter disclosed a failure to elect. A second trial, on September 29, also failed to elect. At the third trial, on October 20, Lyndon Oak was elected. By an amendment of the State Constitution, the begin- ning of the political year had been changed from the first Wednesday in January to the second Wednesday in May. The legislative session of 1846 was, therefore, held in summer instead of winter. The members elected on the anti-slavery issue had increased from one in 1844 to seven in 1846. But this was only a slight indication of the growth of the anti-slavery sentiment at that time. The Demo- cratic speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ebenezer Knowlton, entered the Anti-Slavery ranks soon after. A large majority of the Whigs of the Legisla- ture of 1846 were opposed to any further concessions to slavery. The Legislature of 1846 was visited by Joshua R. Giddings, the robust and fearless opponent of slavery, and member of Congress from Ohio. The object of his visit was to bring into unity of political effort all the opponents of slavery. He had interviews with the lead- ing Whigs of the Legislature. As a result a resolution was presented in the House by an Anti-Slavery member, declaring in substance that the question of the extension of slavery was of more importance than any other before HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 287 the American people. This resolution was supported in a vigorous speech by Hon. Elisha H. Allen of Bangor, and it received the votes of a majority of the Whig members. Garland in 1846 At the annual meeting of 1846, held March 9, Stephen D. Jennings was chosen moderator; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Daniel M. Haskell, Luther Rideout and Stephen D. Jennings, selectmen and assessors; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; Luther Rideout, collector; and Moses G. Gordon, Stephen D. Jennings and Joseph T. Knight, superintending school committee. The com- pensation of the treasurer was five mills per dollar, and that of the collector two per cent. The appropriations were five hundred and fifty dollars for schools, four hundred dollars for town charges, three hundred dollars for the poor, and two thousand, five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. State Election of 1846 The State election of 1846 was held September 14. For governor, John W. Dana, Democrat, received sevent}'-three votes; Samuel Fessenden, Anti-Slavery, received sixty-eight votes; David Bronson, Whig, received twenty votes. For representative to Congress, James S. Wiley, Democrat, received seventy-three votes ; Jeremiah Curtis, 288 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Anti-Slavery, received sixty-nine votes; Sanford Kings- bury, Whig, received twenty votes. For representative to the Legislature, John Walker, Anti-Slavery, received seventy-one votes; Samuel L. Woodman, Democrat, received sixty-eight votes; John L. Hodsdon, Whig, received twenty votes. No choice of representative to the Legislature. The second trial, October 5, was fruitless. The third trial, October 26, was fruitless. On the fourth trial, Wm. Palmer of Exeter was elected. In 1846, Samuel S. Clark, then a recent and valuable accession to the citizenship of the town, entered into partnership with Lorenzo and Lyndon Oak, for the manufacture of boots and shoes, under the firm name of S. S. Clark & Co. A special feature of their work was the manufacture of lumbermen's boots. The excellent quality of their goods soon gave them a reputation that created a brisk demand in this and adjoining towns. This was followed by a wholesale business with merchants in many of the towns of Penobscot and Piscataquis and other counties. Garland in 1847 The annual meeting of 1847 was held March 8. Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were, Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Daniel M. Haskell, Luther Rideout and David Pierce, selectmen ; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer ; John Bartlett, collector. The compensation of the treasurer was fixed at five mills per dollar, and that of the collector at two and one fourth per cent. Daniel M. Haskell, Edson L. Oak and Lorenzo Oak were chosen superintending school com- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 289 mittee. The appropriations were five hundred and fifty dollars for schools, three hundred dollars for the support of the poor, three hundred dollars for town charges, and two thousand, five hundred dollars for roads. Town House Preparations preliminary to the building of a town house were entered upon in 1847. The question of loca- tion provided much discussion. Town meetings, religious meetings and all important meetings had been held at the schoolhouse at the geographical center of the town since the year 1816. Long existing associations favored this location. It was claimed that fair dealing with the inhabitants of the northern and northeastern sections of the town, demanded that the building should occupy a site at its geographical center. The opposing contention was that the building should be located at the center of the village, one mile south of the geographical center. In inclement weather, citizens would be afforded opportunities to shelter their teams within the building at the village. Many of the strong- est objectors to location in the village, would embrace the opportunity afforded by the town meeting to visit the stores and shops in the village, even if the building should be located one mile away from the geographical center. Such considerations led to the selection of the village site. Aaron Hill, Luther Rideout, Daniel M. Haskell, Russell Murdock and Lyndon Oak were appointed a committee to select and purchase a site in the village for 290 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE the proposed building. Joseph Prescott, Luther Ride- out and Samuel Skillin were charged with the duty of preparing plans for the building and providing for its construe bion by contract, which in due time, was awarded to L. & L. Oak & Co. In the summer of the following year, 1848, the building was completed to the satisfac- tion of the building committee. State Election of 1847 The State election of 1847 occurred September 18. For governor, John W. Dana, Democrat, received eighty-four votes; Samuel Fessenden, Anti-Slavery, received seventy-three votes; David Bronson, Whig, received twenty-six votes. For representative to Congress, James S. Wiley, Democrat, received eighty-one votes; Jeremiah Curtis, Anti-Slavery, received seventy-eight votes; Sanford Kingsbury, Whig, received twenty-seven votes. For representative to the Legislature, Moses Ames, Anti-Slavery, received eighty-seven votes; Stephen D. Jennings, Democrat, received sixty-seven votes; Andrew M. Haskell, Whig, received twenty-three votes. A second trial for the election of a representative to the Legislature occurred on October 4, when the result disclosed that Stephen D. Jennings had eighty-four votes, Moses Ames had seventy-three and A. M. Haskell had eleven. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 291 Action of the Town on Proposed Amendments of the State Constitution 1st. On the question of electing governor by a plu- rality of votes, yeas sixty-four, nays twenty-one. 2d. On the question of electing senators by a plu- rality of votes, yeas forty-nine, nays nineteen. 3d. On the question of electing representatives by a plurality of votes, yeas forty-four, nays eleven. 4th. On the question of limiting the credit of the State to an amount not exceeding three hundred thous- and dollars, yeas sixty-five, nays one. Garland in 1848 From 1816 to 1848 the annual March and September meetings had been held at the Center schoolhouse. In 1848, the March meeting was held in the Congregational meeting house. Nehemiah Bartlett was chosen moder- ator. The officers for the year were Charles Reynolds, town clerk ; Nehemiah Bartlett, Aaron Hill and Joseph Vickery, selectmen; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; James J. Chandler, collector, and Daniel M. Haskell, Edson L. Oak and Edward H. Pierce, superintending school com- mittee. The appropriations were five hundred and fifty dol- lars for schools, six hundred dollars for town charges, four hundred dollars for the support of the poor, and twenty-five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. The treasurer was instructed to hire five hundred dollars for the use of the town. 292 HISTORY OF OAKLAND, MAINE State Election in 1848 The State election of 1848 was held in the town house for the first time. All such elections had been held in the Center schoolhouse from 1816 to 1848. For governor, John W. Dana, Democrat, received ninety- three votes ; Samuel Fessenden, Anti-Slavery, received seventy-six votes; Elijah Hamlin, Whig, received thirty- one votes. For representative to Congress, Charles Stetson, Dem- ocrat, received ninety votes; Jeremiah Curtis, Anti- Slaver}7, received seventy-eight votes; Israel Washburn, Whig, received thirty-one votes. For representative to the State Legislature, Simeon Butters, Anti-Slavery, received ninety-four votes; Isaiah Avery, Democrat, received eighty-five votes; Jeremiah Garvin, Whig, received sixteen votes. For presidential electors, (election, November 17,) the Democratic candidates received one hundred and eight votes ; the Anti-Slavery candidates received fifty- eight votes; the Whig candidates received forty-one votes. It will be noticed that the Anti-Slavery vote, which had been on the increase for several years, fell off largely at the presidential election of 1848. This was due to the fact that the Anti -Slavery candidate, Martin Van Buren, did not come up to the ideal of many of the Anti-Slavery voters of the time. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 293 The First High School in Garland The first high school in Garland was opened under the instruction of Lyndon Oak, in the autumn of 1848, in the new town house which had just been completed. There were many bright girls and boys in town who were thirsting for instruction that was not afforded by the district school. The satisfactory attendance at this first term, inspired the hope that the school might be per- petuated, but there was no fund for its support. The town refused aid, and no help could be expected from the State. At this juncture a young man of the name of Bryant, a brother of the late Mrs. Thomas Dearborn, who was on a visit here, offered to take the school, and accept its patronage as compensation in full for his services. His offer was accepted, and the result proved satisfactory. The success of these preliminary efforts inspired the belief that with care in the selection of teachers, who combined ability to instruct with attractive personal qualities, the patronage of the school would nearly, or quite, pay its expenses. If, at any time, a deficit should occur, a few citizens of the village were pledged to pay it. Under the conditions which have been indicated, the school was maintained through a period of fifteen years with a draft of only five dollars upon private funds. The school was but little known beyond the limits of the town, but there are manv men and women who have been, and are now filling useful and responsible stations, who are glad to acknowledge the usefulness to them- selves of the Garland High School of years ago. It had the effect of raising the standard of the district schools through the town. The teacher of the autumnal term was often retained as teacher in the winter term of the 294 HISTORY OF GARLAND MAINE district school, to which advanced scholars of other dis- tricts had free access. A Tornado A tornado of terrible force passed through the north- erly section of Garland in the midsummer of 1848. Originating in the town of Ripley, it passed in an east- erly direction, veering slightly to the north, through Dexter and the northerly section of Garland into Atkin- son. It was narrow of scope, but of irresistible force, demolishing buildings, trees, and making a violent dis- turbance of everything that lay in its way. Fortunately for Garland, no buildings were completely wrecked, but several mill logs in front of the Harriman house, in school district No. 1, were turned end for end, and one had the distinction of being deposited on the roof of Mr. Harriman's house. The barn connected with this house was turned half way round. A well known citi- zen of Garland is authority for the statement that a barn door made a mid-air trip from Ripley over the towns of Dexter and Garland into Atkinson. The following slip from a newspaper describing one of the freaks of the tornado of 1848, whether fiction or fact, is not more remarkable than many well authenti- cated stories connected with it: "It is related of Lamont Downing that in 1848, one pleasant summer's day, he was trudging along the high- way north of the pond near the line between Dexter and Ripley, when a hurricane came over the hills from the west. The air was oppressive and sulphurous and the sky black as ink. The path of the cloud was marked by all sorts of things from the Ripley farmhouses, flying HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 295 overhead. The next thing the lad knew, he was caught up also and went sailing away with the rest of the flyers. Fortunately for him he had not gone far when he came into the thick top of a big elm tree which was twisted and wrung by the cyclone, and to this he clung with all his might. When the storm was past and folks came looking; around to find who was killed, thev discovered the boy lodged in the tree and had to get ladders to get him down from the perilous place." On the day of the tornado the writer, accompanied by a friend, was at Silver's Mills in Northeast Dexter, after a load of lumber for the Garland town house, then in process of construction. The lumber had been loaded, and the team was readv to start, when the sudden appearance of a fearful looking cloud, surcharged with the wrecks of houses and barns, pig pens and hen coops, driven forward on the "wings of the wind" with terri- ble velocity, suggested the propriety of a temporary halt. The storm having passed, the team was started, but it soon came to an enforced halt bv trees that had been blown across the road. Axemen soon came to our relief and removed the obstruction which enabled us to get our load of lumber safely to its destination. Garland in 1849 The annual meeting for the transaction of town busi- ness was held in the new town hall on March 12. Lyndon Oak was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were Charles Reynolds, town clerk ; Daniel M. Haskell, Luther Rideout and Andrew M. Haskell, select- men and assessors; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; James J. 296 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Chandler, collector; Joseph T. Knight, Edward H. Pierce and Daniel M. Haskell, superintending school committee. The compensation of the treasurer for keeping and disbursing money was fixed at five mills per dollar, and of the collector, James J. Chandler, two and one half per cent. The appropriations for the year were six hundred dol- lars for schools, two hundred and fifty dollars for town charges, four hundred and fifty dollars for the support of the poor and two thousand five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. A special meeting was held on May 3, at which Aaron Hill, Lyndon Oak and Stephen D. Jennings were appointed a committee to cooperate with committees of Charleston, Dover and Corinth in efforts to effect the discontinuance of the northeast county road which was laid out in 1846. The State election was held September 10, 1849. For governor, John Hubbard, Democrat, received one hun- dred and eleven votes; Elijah L. Hamlin, Whig, received forty-two votes; George F. Talbot, Anti- Slavery, received fifty votes. John Hubbard was the successful candidate for gov- ernor. Hon. Nehemiah Bartlett of Garland was elected State senator. For representative to the Legislature, Loring D. Hayes, Democrat, received sixty-nine votes; George Curtis, Anti-Slavery, received sixty-seven votes; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received thirty-eight votes. Loring Hajres had a ma) ority of the votes in the class, and was elected. At a meeting for town business on the day of the State election, (September 10) Lyndon Oak, George Curtis and Samuel W. Knight were appointed a committee to select a location for a cemetery, the site of which should be in convenient proximity to the village. As the result of this action, the cemetery now known as "Maple Grove Cemetery" was established. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 297 Garland in 1850 The annual town meeting of 1850 was held March 11. Andrew M. Haskell was chosen moderator. The officers for the vear were Charles Reynolds, town clerk ; Daniel M. Haskell, Sylvester Abbott and Andrew M. Haskell, selectmen and assessors; Charles Reynolds, treasurer, whose compensation was fixed at two mills per dollar ; James J. Chandler, collector, compensation two and one half per cent. ; Joseph T. Knight, E. H. Pierce and Moses G. Gordon, superintending school committee. The appropriations were six hundred dollars for schools, three hundred dollars for town charges, three hundred and fifty dollars for the poor, twelve hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, and a cash appro- priation of three hundred dollars for the same purpose. The selectmen were authorized to appoint an agent to expend the cash appropriation. Autumnal Elections of 1850 The meeting for the election of governor and other officers was held September 9. For governor, John Hubbard, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty votes; William G. Crosby, Whig, received fifty-seven votes; George F. Talbot, Anti-Slavery, received nineteen votes. For representative to Congress, Hastings Strickland received nineteen votes; Israel Washburn, Jr., received sixty-nine votes; Charles Stetson received one hundred and seven votes. For representative to the Legislature, Samuel 29S HISTORY OF GARLAND MAINE Woodman, Democrat, received one hundred and thirty votes; John L. Hodsdon, Whig, received fifty-eight votes; Simeon Butters, Anti-Slavery, received six votes. Garland in the Contest for United States Sen- ator in 1850 In 1850, Loring D. Hayes, Esq., of Garland, repre- sented his class in the House of Representatives. Another citizen of Garland, Hon. Nehemiah Bartlett, was a member of the Senate. At this session of the Legislature there occurred a political contest of the gravest character. It involved the question whether the influence of the State of Maine should be used for, or against, the fur- ther extension of slavery. The parties to this contest were the hunker Democrats, who with pliant knees were ready to kneel to the behests of the slave power, on the one side, and the Democrats who were unalterably opposed to yielding another acre to the withering blast of slavery, on the other side. The candidate of the opponents of slavery was Hannibal Hamlin. Mr. Hamlin had made himself obnoxious to the slave power by his earnest and uncompromising opposition to the further spread of slaver}'. One of his most grievous offences was that he had instigated the passage of a resolve by a previous Legislature, instructing Maine's delegation in Congress to oppose all measures favoring the extension of slavery. The balloting, which began on June 20, was followed by a long and exciting contest. As it progressed, Anti- Slavites, Whigs and Free Soilers, were drawn to the sup- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 299 port of Mr. Hamlin. The balloting which began June 20, was terminated by a dramatic incident on July 25. On the first ballot of that day, Mr. Hamlin lacked one vote of an election in the House. Loring D. Hayes, member of the House from Garland, was an enthusiastic friend of Mr. Hamlin, but, unfortunately, he was dan- gerously sick with t}Tphoid fever at his boarding-house. He had sent word to friends, "Any time my vote will elect Hannibal Hamlin to the United States Senate, I will come to the House if you have to carry me on my dying bed." When the result of the first ballot was announced, a score or more of men dashed out of the House in an instant, and bolted into Hayes' room. Picking him up, bed and all, they moved as fast as it was safe to the House. When they appeared with the sick man on his bed, pandemonium reigned for a time among the Anti- Slaverv Democrats. The next ballot was taken amidst breathless excitement, and when it was announced that Mr. Hamlin was elected on the part of the House, his friends were wild with joy. Mr. Hamlin's election in the House was soon followed by his election in the Senate. The importance of this result will be appreciated when it is remembered that the following two national administrations were completely dominated by the slave power. The writer is mainly indebted to the Life and Times of Hannibal Hamlin for the facts contained in this sketch. Garland in 1851 The annual meeting of 1851 was held March 10. Lyndon Oak was chosen moderator. The officers for the 300 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE year were, Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Luther Rideout, Daniel Silver and Andrew M. Haskell, selectmen and assessors ; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer, compensation for receiving and disbursing, five mills per dollar; Samuel W. Knight, collector, compensation nineteen mills per dollar; superintending school committee, Daniel M. Haskell, Edward H. Pierce and Lorenzo Oak. The appropriations were six hundred dollars for schools, four hundred dollars for town charges, two hun- dred dollars to support the poor and two thousand dol- lars for highways. Garland in 1852 The annual meeting of 1852 was held on the eighth day of March. Stephen D. Jennings was chosen moder- ator. The officers for the year were, William F. Haskell, town clerk; Andrew M. Haskell, Daniel Silver and John K. Haskell, selectmen and assessors ; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer, compensation five mills per dollar ; James J. Chandler, collector, compensation eighteen mills per dollar; Joseph T. Knight, superintending school com- mittee. The appropriations for 1852 were six hundred dollars for schools, three hundred dollars for town charges, two hundred and fifty dollars for the poor, two thousand five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, and a cash appropriation of one hundred dollars. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 801 Autumnal Elections of 1852 The legal voters of Garland assembled September 18, 1852, to ballot for governor and other officers. For governor, John Hubbard, Democrat, received one hun- dred and ten votes; William G. Crosby, Whig, received sixty-one votes; Ezekiel Holmes received eight votes; Anson G. Chandler received eighty-five votes. William Crosby was elected governor. For representative to Congress, Israel Washburn, Whig, received one hundred and eighteen votes ; Isaiah Waterhouse, Democrat, received sixty votes; Hastings Strickland, Democrat, received eiglny-one votes. Israel Washburn was the successful candidate. For representative to the Legislature, Luther Rideout received one hundred and thirty-nine votes; Joseph T. Knight received one hundred and eleven votes. The town balloted for presidential electors on Novem- ber 2, 1852, when the Democratic candidate received ninety-three votes, the Anti-Slavery candidate, sixty votes and the Whig candidate received thirty-eight votes. Garland in 1853 The annual town meeting of 1853 was held on March 14. Stephen D. Jennings was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were, Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Andrew M. Haskell, S. D. Jennings and Eleazer Burnham, selectmen and assessors; Lorenzo Oak, town treasurer; E. H. Pierce, superintending school commit- Q 02 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE tee ; Jacob W. Haskell, collector of taxes, compensation two per cent. The selectmen were appointed highway surveyors and field-drivers. The appropriations for 1853 were six hundred dollars for schools, three hundred dollars for town charges, three hundred dollars for the poor and one thousand nine hundred dollars for highways. Lyndon Oak, Luther Rideout and Daniel M. Haskell were appointed to ascer- tain whether a suitable home for the residence of the poor could be procured at reasonable cost. Autumnal Elections of 1853 For governor, William G. Crosby, Whig, received forty-five votes; Anson P. Morrill, Temperance and Anti-Slavery, received fifty-seven votes ; Ezekiel Holmes, received sixty-one votes; Albert Pillsbury, Democrat, received ninety-three votes. For county commissioner, Daniel M. Haskell received one hundred and forty-one votes; Joseph Chadbourne received one hundred and two votes; Francis W. Hill received ten votes. For representative to the Legislature, Allen C. Tibbetts received one hundred and fifty-one votes; Thomas K. Holt received one hundred and four votes. Mr. Holt received a majority in the class. Garland in 1854 The annual meeting of 1854 was held March 13. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 303 for the year were, William F. Haskell, town clerk ; John G. Jones, Joseph F. Knight and John K. Haskell, select- men and assessors; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; Jacob W. Haskell, collector of taxes. Compensation of treasurer for receiving and disbursing was fixed at five mills per dollar. Compensation of collector was two per cent. The appropriations of 1854 were for schools, seven hundred dollars; for town charges, two hundred and fifty dollars; for support of the poor, three hundred dollars, and two thousand six hundred dollars for high- ways. Highway surveyors were authorized to bargain with real estate owners, who held lands bordering upon badly drifting roads, to reduce the height of their fences to lessen the tendency of snow to drift. The town voted to remonstrate against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and the selectmen and town clerk were instructed to formulate and forward the remon- strance. There was an article in the warrant calling the meeting, to see if the town would vote to purchase a hearse. The action upon this article was to leave the matter to the judgment of the selectmen and clerk. This was the first action of the town relating to the purchase of a hearse. The Autumnal Elections For governor, Anson P. Morrill, Temperance and Anti-Slavery, received one hundred and thirty votes; Albion K. Parris, Democrat, received one hundred and twelve votes; Isaac Reed, Whig, received twenty-eight votes. Mr. Morrill was elected. 304 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE For representative to Congress, Israel Washburn, Jr., Whig, received one hundred and fifty-seven votes; Samuel H. Blake, Democrat, received one hundred and thirteen votes. For representative to the State Legislature, Lyndon Oak, Anti-Slavery, received one hundred and thirty-four votes; Thomas K. Holt, Democrat, received one hundred and thirty-two votes. Mr. Holt received a majority of the votes in the class. Garland in 1855 The annual meeting of 1855 was held March 12. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were, William F. Haskell, town clerk ; A. M. Haskell, John Batchelder and William S. Haskell, selectmen and assessors; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; Jacob W. Haskell, collector; J. C. Lawrence, superintending school committee. The compensation of the treasurer was one half of one per cent., and that of the collector two and one half per cent. The appropriations of 1855 were eight hundred dol- lars for schools, five hundred dollars for town charges, two hundred dollars for the poor, two thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, and a cash appropriation of one hundred dollars. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 305 Autumnal Elections The autumnal elections of 1855 were held September 10. For governor, Anson P. Morrill, Temperance and Anti-Slavery, received one hundred and seventy-one votes; Samuel Wells, Democrat, received one hundred and one votes; Isaac Reed, Whig, received nineteen votes. For senators, William R. Hersey received one hundred and seventy-three votes ; Abner R. Hallowell received one hundred and seventy-three votes ; Lyndon Oak, received one hundred and seventy-two votes ; the Democratic can- didate received one hundred and one votes; the Whig candidate received nineteen votes. The Democratic candidates were elected. For representative to the Legislature, Noah Barker received one hundred and seventy-five votes ; F. W. Hill received one hundred and seventeen votes. Garland in 1856 The annual meeting of 1856 was held on March 10. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were, Isaac W. Haskell, clerk; Lorenzo Oak, William S. Haskell and Noah W. Johnson, select- men and assessors; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Amasa Hatch, Jr., superintending school committee. Leonard Skillin, collector of taxes, compensation two and one half per cent. It was voted to raise the sum required by law for schools, one thousand dollars for town charges, three hundred dollars to support the poor, two thousand three 306 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, and cash appropriations of one hundred dollars each, to be expended on the northerly end of the North road, and a like sum for the county road from Holt's Mills to the eastern line of the town. Clouds in the Political Horizon Ominous clouds rising from the southern political horizon were viewed with apprehension by the citizens of every northern state. The slave power of the South had long been engaged in the desperate attempt to break down the barriers that protected the northern states from the curse of slavery, and now, the national adminis- tration was pledged to aid in this attempt. At this juncture the political party, known as the Republican party of Maine, was originated. It drew into its ranks recruits from all political parties. United States Senator Hannibal Hamlin, who had always exerted his transcendent powers of intellect and influence in opposition to the inroads of slavery upon free soil, was induced to accept the nomination for gov- ernor. Entering at once upon the work of the cam- paign, he addressed large and enthusiastic crowds at the centers of population through the State. Autumnal Elections of 1856 For governor, Hannibal Hamlin, Republican, received one hundred and ninety-three votes; Samuel Wells, HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE SOT Democrat, received one hundred and three votes ; George F. Patten, Straight Whig, received seven votes. Mr. Hamlin was elected. For State senators, William R. Hersey, Republican, received one hundred and ninety-four votes; Abner R. Hersey, Republican, received one hundred and ninety- four votes ; Lyndon Oak, Republican, received one hun- dred and ninety-four votes; Amos M. Roberts, Demo- crat, received one hundred and four votes; Stephen D. Jennings, Democrat, received one hundred and four votes; O. Pearson, Democrat, received one hundred and four votes. For representative to Congress, Israel Washburn, Jr., Republican, received one hundred and ninety-five votes; Abraham Sanborn, Democrat, received one hundred and two votes. For representative to the Legislature, Artemas Merriam, Republican, received one hundred and ninety- three votes; Thomas K. Holt, Democrat, received one hundred and eight votes. Mr. Merriam received a majority in the representative class. The Republican candidate for senator was elected. Presidential Electors Balloting for presidential electors occurred on the fourth of November, 1856, with results as follows: The Republican candidates received one hundred and eighty- seven votes; the Democratic candidates received eighty- seven votes; the Straight Whigs received seven votes. 308 HISTORY OF GARLAND MAINE Garland in 18.57 The annual town meeting of 1857 was held on the ninth day of March. Russell Murdock was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were, Thaddeus P. Irish, town clerk ; Lorenzo Oak, Noah W. Johnson and Samuel Skillin, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Lyndon Oak, super- visor of schools; James J. Chandler, collector of taxes, with commission of two and one half per cent. Appropriations of 1857 For schools, the amount required by law, six hundred dollars for town charges, five hundred dollars for the poor, two thousand five hundred dollars for roads, a cash appropriation of one hundred dollars for the road running in a southeasterly direction to the town line and of one hundred dollars to be expended on the Notch road. Autumnal Elections of 1857 This election was held September 14 with results as follows: For governor, Lot M. Morrill, Republican, received one hundred and fifty-three votes ; Manasseh H. Smith, Democrat, received one hundred and two votes. For senators, the Republican candidate received one hundred and fifty-three votes ; the Democratic candidate received one hundred and four votes. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 309 Stephen D. Jennings of Garland was a candidate for the Senate. For representative to the Legislature, the Republican candidate received one hundred and forty-nine votes; the Democratic candidate received one hundred and seven votes. Garland in 1858 The annual meeting of 1858 was held on the 8th day of March. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were Thaddeus P. Irish, town clerk; Lorenzo Oak, Samuel Skillin and T. J. Shaw, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Lyndon Oak, supervisor of schools ; James J. Chandler, collector of taxes, and two and one half per cent, was voted him for the service, he agreeing to allow a rebate of twelve and one half per cent, for the amount uncollected at the end of a year from the date of his bills. Appropriations of 1858 For schools, the amount required by law, four hun- dred and fifty dollars for town charges, four hundred dollars for the support of the poor, two hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, a cash appropriation of four hundred dollars to be expended on the north end of the Notch road, also a cash appropriation not to exceed two hundred and seventy-five dollars for the completion of the county road leading from Holt's Mills to the 310 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE west line of Charleston by contract, the terms of which shall insure the construction of the road in a thorough manner. Autumnal Elections of 1858 For governor, Lot M. Morrill, Republican, received one hundred and seventy votes ; Manasseh Smith, Demo- crat, received one hundred and twenty-six votes. For representative to Congress, Israel Washburn, Jr., Republican, received one hundred and seventy-two votes; James S. Wiley, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty-three votes. For representative to the Legislature, Noah W. Johnson, Republican, received one hundred and seven t}*- four votes ; Samuel Skillin, Democrat, received one hun- dred and twenty-three votes. Mr. Johnson was elected. Garland in 1859 The annual town meeting of 1859 was held March 14. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were Lorenzo Oak, T. J. Shaw and Luther Rideout, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Lyndon Oak, supervisor of schools; Edwin Hill, collector, compensa- tion two and one half per cent. The appropriations were eight hundred dollars for the support of schools, four hundred and fifty dollars for HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 311 town charges, five hundred dollars to support the poor and two thousand five hundred dollars for highways. The treasurer of the town was authorized to hire a sum not exceeding one thousand two hundred and fifty dol- lars at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent., to be applied to the making of the Notch road. Autumnal Elections of 1859 The autumnal elections of 1859 were held on Septem- ber 12. For governor, Lot M. Morrill, Republican, received one hundred and sixty-six votes; Manasseh Smith, Democrat, received one hundred and five votes. For representative to the Legislature, Winthrop Chapman, Republican, received one hundred and fifty- six votes; Washington L. P. Walker, Democrat, received one hundred and eight votes. Mr. Chapman was elected. Garland in 1860 The annual meeting of 1860 was held on the 12th day of March. Artemas Merriam was chosen moder- ator. The officers for the year were Henry C. Preble, town clerk; Lorenzo Oak, Russell Murdock and Stephen D. Jennings, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer, compensation four per cent. ; Lyndon Oak, supervisor of schools; James J. Chandler, collector of taxes for a compensation of two per cent. 312 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The appropriations were eight hundred dollars for schools, four hundred dollars to defray town charges, five hundred dollars to support the poor, one thousand dollars to pay town debts and two thousand dollars for highways, to be paid in labor. Autumnal Election This election was held September 10, 1860. For gov- ernor, Israel Washburn, Jr., Republican, received two hundred and thirteen votes ; Ephraim K. Smart, Demo- crat, received one hundred and fifteen votes. For representative to Congress, John H. Rice, Repub- lican, received two hundred and fifteen votes ; Samuel H. Blake, Democrat, received one hundred and sixteen votes. For register of probate, Joseph Bartlett, Republi- can, a native of Garland, received two hundred and thirteen votes; Henry Casey, Democrat, received one hundred and sixteen votes. For representative to the Legislature, Luther Rideout, Republican, received two hundred and two votes; John G. Jones, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty- two votes. Mr. Rideout received a majority of votes in the class. Ballot for Presidential Electors in 1860 The voters of Garland assembled on November 6 to ballot for presidential electors, when the Republican candidate received one hundred and ninety-three votes; HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 313 the Democratic candidate received fifty-three votes ; the Straight Whig candidate received twenty-eight votes. On the same day for representative to Congress, Stephen Coburn, Republican, received one hundred and ninety-three votes; Joseph Chase, Democrat, received forty-nine votes; scattering, twenty-eight votes. Garland in 1861 The annual meeting for town business was held March 11. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were Henry C. Preble, town clerk; Russell Murdock, Samuel Skillin and George W. Otis, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Henry C. Preble, supervisor of schools; James J. Chandler, collector, who agreed to col- lect the taxes for two and one half per cent., and to pay twelve per cent, interest upon the sum of uncollected taxes at the end of the year. E. L. Oak was chosen town agent. The appropriations for the year were nine hundred dollars for schools, four hundred dollars for town charges, five hundred dollars for the poor, seven hundred dollars to pay debts and two thousand five hundred dol- lars for roads. The town voted to authorize the select- men to grant the use of the town house for concerts, lectures and kindred purposes upon such conditions as they judge proper. At a special meeting of the town, held on April 6, it was voted to appropriate five hun- dred dollars to make and repair highways. 314 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Autumnal Election of 1861 This election was held on September 9. For gov- ernor, Israel Washburn, Republican, received two hun- dred and two votes ; John W. Dana, Democrat, received eighty-seven votes; scattering, twelve votes. For county commissioner, John S. Patten, Repub- lican, received two hundred and two votes; Thomas K. Holt, Democrat, received eighty-five votes. For representative to the Legislature, E. H. Small, Republican, received two hundred and one votes ; Francis Hill, Democrat, received eighty-eight votes; John W. Osgood, received eleven votes. Garland in 1862 The annual meeting for town business in 1862 was held on March 10. Artemas Merriam was chosen mod- erator. The officers for the year were H. C. Preble, clerk ; Russell Murdock, Samuel Skillin and James J. Chandler, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; H. C. Preble, supervisor of schools ; E. L. Oak, town agent ; Edwin Hill, collector, who was allowed two and one half per cent, for collect- ing the taxes, and was held to pay twelve and one half per cent, interest upon the sum uncollected at the end of the year until such sum was paid into the treasury. The regular appropriations for 1862 were nine hun- dred dollars for schools, six hundred and fifty dollai-s for town charges, six hundred dollars for the poor, eight hundred dollars to pay debts and two thousand five hun- dred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. The town HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 315 voted to purchase a home for the poor, and instructed the selectmen to look for such home, and report at the September meeting. Autumnal Election of 1862 For governor, Abner Coburn, Republican, received one hundred and sixty-seven votes; Bion Bradbury, Democrat, received ninety-four votes. For representative to Congress, John H. Rice, Repub- lican, received one hundred and sixty-five votes ; Gorham L. Boynton, Democrat, received ninety-four votes. For representative to State Legislature, Daniel M. Haskell, Republican, received one hundred and sixty- three votes ; Stephen D. Jennings, received ninety-three votes. Mr. Haskell was elected. Garland in 1863 The annual meeting for town business in 1863 was held March 9. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were, A. M. Haskell, Elisha Skinner and Edwin Hill, selectmen, assessors and over- seers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Henry C. Preble, David Evans and Edson L. Oak, superin- tending school committee; Lorenzo Oak, town agent; John S. Oliver, collector, who was to collect the taxes for one per cent. , and to pay twelve per cent, upon the sum of uncollected taxes at the close of the year. 316 HisrroEY of garland, maine The appropriations for 1863 were nine hundred dol- lars for schools, five hundred dollars for town charges, six hundred dollars for the poor, one thousand two hun- dred dollars to pay debts and two thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. Autumnal Election of 1863 For governor, Samuel Cony, Republican, received two hundred and seventeen votes; B. Bradbury, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty-six votes. For representative to the Legislature, Francis W. Hill, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty-seven votes; John W. Osgood, Republican, received two hun- dred and sixteen votes. Garland in 1864 The annual meeting for town business occurred on the 14th of March. Luther Rideout was moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk; A. M. Haskell, Elisha Skinner and Thomas Dearborn, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Lyndon Oak, David Evans and Calvin P. Berry, superintending school committee; John S. Oliver, collector of taxes, whose compensation was one and one half per cent. The appropriations of 1864 were nine hundred dollars for schools, five hundred dollars for town charges, six hundred dollars for the poor, one thousand dollars to HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE 817 pay debts, two thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. Autumnal Election of 1864 For governor, Samuel Cony, Republican, received two hundred and nine votes; Joseph Howard, Democrat, received one hundred and eleven votes. For representative to Congress, John H. Rice received two hundred and eight votes; James C. Madigan received one hundred and eleven votes. For representative to the Legislature, Lyndon Oak received two hundred and eight votes; Albert Grinnell received one hundred and eleven votes. The legal voters of Garland assembled on the 8th of November to ballot for electors for President and Vice President, when the Republican candidates received two hundred and eleven votes ; the Democratic candidates received one hundred and seventeen votes. Garland in 1865 The annual meeting for town business in 1865 was held on the 13th of March. Luther Rideout was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk; A. M. Haskell, Lorenzo Oak and Thomas Dearborn, Jr., selectmen, assessors and over- seers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Lyndon Oak, David Evans and Calvin P. Berry, superintending school committee; John S. Oliver, collector, compensa- tion one and one half per cent. 318 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The appropriations for the year were one thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars for schools, one thousand six hundred dollars for town charges, eight hundred dollars for the poor, two thousand dollars to pay debts and three thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. Autumnal Election of 1865 This election occurred on September 11. For gov- ernor, Samuel Cony, Republican, received one hundred and seventy-four votes; Joseph Howard, Democrat, received eighty-three votes. For representative to the Legislature, E. Augustus Chandler, Republican, received one hundred and seventy- four votes; Harmon Eastman, Democrat, received eighty-three votes. Garland in 1866 The annual meeting for town business was held on March 12. Luther Rideout was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk; A. M. Haskell, Joseph M. Gerry and Jacob W. Haskell, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor ; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; A. W. Reed, superintending school committee; William E. Skillin, collector of taxes, compensation one per cent. The appropriations for 1866 were one thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars for schools, two thousand HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 319 dollars for town charges, five hundred dollars for the poor, two thousand five hundred dollars to pay debts and two thousand five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. It was voted to allow twenty-five per cent, discount to all taxpayers who paid their taxes on, or before, the 10th day of June. Autumnal Election of 1866 This election was held on the 10th day of September. For governor, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Republican, received two hundred and eight votes ; Eben F. Pillsbury, Democrat, received one hundred and one votes. For representative to Congress, John A. Peters, Republican, received two hundred and six votes ; G. M. Weston, Democrat, received one hundred and one votes. For representative to the Legislature, Lyndon Oak, Republican, received two hundred and six votes; Joel W. Otis, Democrat, received one hundred and one votes. Garland in 1867 The annual meeting for town business in 1867, was held on the 11th day of March. Luther Rideout was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk ; A. M. Haskell, Jacob W. Haskell and Joseph M. Gerry, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Lyndon Oak and Henry C. Preble, superintending school committee; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; A. F. Parkman, collector of taxes, 320 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE compensation fifteen mills per dollar. The selectmen were elected surveyors of highways. The appropriations for the year were one thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars for schools, two thousand dollars for town charges, seven hundred dollars for the poor, three thousand dollars to pay debts, three thousand dollars for roads. Autumnal Election of 1867 This election was held on the 9th of September. For governor, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Republican, received one hundred and eighty-one votes; Eben F. Pillsbury, Democrat, received one hundred and two votes. For senator, Isaiah Stetson, Republican, received one hundred and eighty-one votes; John Gardner, Demo- crat, received one hundred and one votes. For representative, Amasa Stetson, Republican, received one hundred and eighty-one votes; Eben E. Brown received one hundred and two votes. Garland in 1868 The annual meeting of 1868 for town business was held in March. Artemas Merriam was moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, clerk ; A. M. Haskell, Jacob W. Haskell and George W. Otis, select- men, assessors and overseers of the poor; David Evans, superintending school committee; Franklin Taylor, HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 321 treasurer, compensation five mills per dollar; Lorenzo Oak, collector of taxes, compensation one per cent. The appropriations for 1868 were one thousand five hundred dollars for schools, one thousand seven hundred dollars for town charges, seven hundred dollars for the poor, one thousand dollars for debts, two thousand five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor at fifteen cents per hour. Cash appropriations for roads were five hundred dollars to be expended on county road between Garland Village and Holt's Mills, one hundred and fifty dollars to be expended on the road leading from N. J. Johnson's mill to Dover line, two hundred dollars to be expended on road leading from I. B. Royal's to Dexter line, seventy-five dollars to be expended on bridge over the stream near Lewis Crowell's mill, one hundred dol- lars to grade the Preble hill, fifty dollars to build a road to Gray's mill. The selectmen were authorized to purchase a hearse. Autumnal Election of 1868 This election was held on the 14th of September. For governor, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Republican, received two hundred and ten votes; Eben F. Pillsbury, Democrat, received one hundred and thirty-one votes. For representative to Congress, John A. Peters, Republican, received two hundred and nine votes; G. W. Ladd, Democrat, received one hundred and thirty- two votes. For representative to the Legislature, Lyndon Oak, Republican, received two hundred and nine votes; Stephen D. Jennings, Democrat, received one hundred and thirty-two votes. 322 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The legal voters of Garland assembled on the 3d of November to ballot for electors of President and Vice President, when the Republican candidates received two hundred and one votes; the Democratic candidates received one hundred and eleven votes. Garland in 1869 The meeting for town business in 1869 was held on the 8th day of March. Luther Rideout was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk; A. M. Haskell, Jacob W. Haskell and George W. Otis, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer, compensation five mills per dollar; Lorenzo Oak, collector, compen- sation one and one half cents per dollar. The appropriations of 1869 were one thousand five hundred dollars for schools, one thousand two hundred dollars for town charges, eight hundred dollars for the poor, one thousand dollars for debts, one hundred and fifty dollars for the road near Johnson's Mills, three thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, for which men are to be allowed fifteen cents per hour. At a special meeting held September 6, 1869, the town voted to exempt the mill property of H. L. Gordon & Co. from taxation for an indefinite time. Autumnal Election This election was held on the 13th day of September, 1869. For governor, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Repub- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 323 lican, received one hundred and fifty votes; Franklin Smith, Democrat, received one hundred and three votes; scattering, ten votes. For representative to the Legislature, John Whitney, Republican, received one hundred and sixty votes; Francis W. Hill, Democrat, received one hundred and three votes. Special Meeting A special meeting was held on November 24th to take another pull on the town farm question, when it was voted to purchase such farm and properly equip it for a comfortable home for an unfortunate class of our citizens. Money not to exceed three thousand five hun- dred dollars was voted to purchase such farm and prop- erly furnish it. Elijah Crane was appointed agent to make the selection and purchase of a farm with suitable buildings for the purpose intended. Garland in the Temperance Reform At the opening of the nineteenth century, the use of intoxicating liquors had become almost universal in the United States. Its citizens were at a remove of only a few years from the Revolutionary War. The terrible hardships of this war had been a fruitful source of intemperance. Its results had humbled the pride of our English cousins, who solaced themselves by characterizing the people of the United States as a "nation of drunk- 324 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE ards. '' The use of spirituous liquors invaded every department of life. They were used at the ordination of ministers, at the dedication of churches, at funerals and weddings. New England rum was the stimulating agency where the combined strength of numbers was required, such as the raising the frames of buildings, and to promote steadiness of nerve to those who scaled dizzy heights. Such were the sentiments and usages at the date of the settlement of Garland. The early settlers were gen- erally men of good character, having been religiously educated in the homes of their childhood, but abstinence from the use of intoxicating drinks had found no place in the creeds of the times. In the toilsome efforts to compel the resistant forces of a new country to give place to the homes of civilization, the stimulus of New England rum was believed to be essential to success. It was used to inspire courage, to promote strength of muscle, and to ward off the cold of winter and the heat of summer. In every day occupations it was used mod- erately as a rule. Its excessive use was reserved for pub- lic occasions, such as military inspections, musters and celebrations of public events. Corn huskings, where neighbors met to assist each other in divesting the ear of its coverings, were esteemed as pleasant social events of the long, autumnal evenings. The failure to provide a generous supply of the favorite New England beverage for such occasions was attributed to stinginess. On one such occasion, the person who had been favored by the assistance of his neighbors, awoke the next morning to find that a favorite two-year-old heifer was missing. After a long and fruitless search in pasture, field and forest, the missing animal was found tied to a brace on the summit of a hay mow. Then, as now, the appetite for liquor in the case of individuals HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE 325 was, at times, very strong. At the end of the spring's work, on one occasion, two men living just across the line in Dexter, started to go to Bangor for the purchase of supplies, prominent among which was rum, the sup- ply of this article having been exhausted several days earlier. Their thirst having become imperative, they called at the house of Isaac Copeland, where Mark Jennings now resides, and asked for a drink of rum. Mr. Copeland informed them that he was out of that article, when one of them exclaimed — "For Heaven's sake bring out your rum jug and let us smell it!" At military inspections and drills which occurred early in the month of May of each year, the pail of rum sweetened with molasses was passed from head to foot of the company standing in line, at the opening and close of the drill. This was a marked feature of the old- time May training. Rum was kept in all grocery stores for the double purpose of stimulating purchases and in- creasing trade. The increase of intemperance had now become a cause of alarm to thoughtful people. In the year 1826, the Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher of Litchfield, Conn., the father of Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe, preached a series of start- ling sermons upon the increase of intemperance in the United States, which were given to the public a little later by the American Tract Society. The pungency and force of these sermons are indicated by the follow- ing extract : ' 'Intemperance is the sin of our land, and with our boundless prosperity is coming upon us like a flood, and if anything shall defeat the hopes of the world which hang upon our experiment of civil liberty, it is that river of fire which is rolling through the land, destroying the vital air, and extending around us an atmosphere of death." Doctor Beecher's utterances on the inroads of intern- 326 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE perance produced a profound impression upon the New England mind. The ministry was especially stirred. Temperance societies sprang into existence as if by magic in many a New England town. Bangor's most eminent citizens led in the organization of a county temperance society. The towns in the immediate vicin- ity of Garland were moved to action by the stirring appeals of Cyril Pearl, then a student of Bangor Theo- logical Seminary. The first action in Garland, looking to associated effort in the cause of temperance, occurred in 1829. Isaac Wheeler, Esq., one of Garland's leading citizens, was at work in his field with his hired man, Joseph True, both being ardent friends of temperance. The con- versation between them turned upon the importance of organized effort in behalf of temperance, when one of them proposed that they should step across the road to the residence of the Rev. Isaac Wilkins, the Congre- gational minister, and request him to write a paper pledging them to abstain from the use of alcoholic drinks. The pledge was signed by Isaac Wheeler and Joseph True. This led to the organization of Garland's first temperance society. To Isaac Wheeler and Joseph True belongs the honor of being the pioneers in the associated temperance movement in Garland. A society was organized shortly after which bore the names of Isaac Wilkins and wife, Isaac Wheeler and wife, Joseph True, Ansel Field and wife, Deacon Stephen Smith and wife, and George Curtis. Deacon Smith was chosen president and George Curtis, secretary. The organization was effected at the house now occupied by the Clark family. Its members pledged themselves to abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage and from furnishing them to others. This HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 827 movement was at first treated with ridicule by the citizens of the town generally. When a job requiring the voluntary assistance of num- bers to perform, was undertaken, the failure to furnish a bountiful supply of New England rum was considered an unpardonable infraction of a time-honored practice. The raising of houses and barn frames were illustrative cases. In 1829, Elder John Page asked the assistance of neighbors to raise a barn frame. Several persons who appeared in response to the request, finding that the anticipated stimulus was invisible, refused to assist and disappeared, whereupon, Elder Josiah Bartlett offered an earnest prayer for an increase of strength to the men who remained. The frame was raised without accident. Soon afterward, James J. Chandler raised a barn frame without supplying liquor against the earnest protest of his master workman. In the same year George Curtis raised a barn frame without the aid of liquor. In this case two men demanded payment for assistance rendered. The men who thus early engaged in the crusade against the use of rum were not turned from their purpose by ridicule or threats. The temperance sentiment had reached a point in 1840 when the presence of rum at a house or barn raising was not expected. Some amusing incidents of the effects of rum at barn raisings are related. At the raising of the barn on the place now occupied by James Rideout several men came from the easterly part of the town who saved considerable travel by crossing a brook on a tree that had been felled across it. In walking to the site of the prospective barn, they reached the opposite side dry. On their return over the same brook, on the same tree, they were wet when they got to the side nearest their homes. 328 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE The Washingtonian Movement In 1841, the Washingtonian temperance movement inaugurated at Baltimore three years earlier, which had drawn to its ranks many citizens who had not previously attached themselves to the earlier temperance associa- tions, attracted the favorable attention of a number of the citizens of Garland. A Washingtonian society was organized. Captain Bildad A. Haskell was chosen president and Stephen B. Dockham, secretary. For several years its members worked with zeal and success in advancing the cause of temperance. In the same year the earlier friends of temperance organized anew, adopting the name of "The Garland Union Temperance Society. ' ' The new pledge forbade the use of wine, which was a step in advance. The friends of temperance had been aggressive from the beginning. They had shown that the raising of build- ings and similar undertakings could be accomplished without the use of intoxicants. They had driven the traffic from the stores. The next point of attack was the hotels. A respectable citizen of Garland, believed that, as he expressed it, ' 'the more radical opponents of the temper- ance movement could be induced to cease their strong opposition to it by a judicious sale of intoxicating drinks. ' ' His explanation of such sale was to refuse it to the immoderate drinker, and to furnish to the moder- ate drinker under such limitations as would guard him against its excessive use. This theory failed to satisfy the friends of temperance. Some of the leading temperance men endeavored, in a friendly way, to induce him to relinquish his purpose, but without avail. A remonstrance against the sale of intoxicating liquors, signed by all the town officers, and HISTORY OF GAELAND, MAINE 329 leading citizens of the town, was placed in his hands. A similar remonstrance of a large number of women was placed in the hands of his wife. As a result of these movements the sale of intoxicating liquors was promptly abandoned. The year 1 848 marks the date when the open sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage became a thing of the past in the history of Garland. A healthy public senti- ment upon this vital subject has been maintained by temperance organizations, under different names, from 1848 to the present time. An Event Worthy of Record In the year 1876, several members of a Reform Club of a neighboring town, visited Garland for the purpose of organizing a Reform Club. Their motives were excel- lent and their zeal was of the fervid type, but to their surprise they found no material upon which to base such an organization. Garland's Action on a Proposed Amendment of the State Constitution In 1884, an amendment of the State Constitution, forever prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and keeping for sale of intoxicating liquor for drinking purposes, was submitted to a vote of the people of the State. The voters of Garland gave 176 votes for the amendment and 51 votes against it. 530 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Before Roads Were Made in the Township Before roads were made a settler would spot a line through the woods to his nearest neighbor. If a rude bridge were to be built across a stream, or a miry place made passable, the combined efforts of the two would accomplish the work. This neighbor in turn would mark the way to the next neighbor in the same manner. Thus lines of travel were opened through the township. In marking these ways hills and swamps were avoided when practicable. They were often rough and circuit- ous, and the more they were traveled the worse they became. Excluded from the influence of the sun by the heavy forest growth, they were scarcely dry from spring to autumn. Horses were much used for carrying bur- dens, and it is said that they learned to find solid foot- ing by traveling in footsteps already made. Early Lines of Approach to the Township The earliest line of approach to the township, now Garland, was by the way of Bangor through the present towns of Glenburn, Kenduskeag, Corinth, and a corner of Charleston. After leaving Charleston it extended in a northwesterly direction to a spring of excellent water near the former residence of S. O. Davis, thence to the site of Garland village. It was by this route that those eighteen stalwart men, who made beginnings of homes in 1802, reached the township. It was by this route that the heroic family of Joseph Garland, which after- wards gave name to the town, found their way to their little cabin by the brookside in the northwest part of the township. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 331 The second line of approach, diverging from the above line at Kenduskeag, passed through West Corinth and a corner of Exeter to Garland. The old countv road from western Piscataquis to Bangor, afterwards made, was nearly coincident with this second line of approach. This was the line of travel for Moses Hodsdon and his men from Kenduskeag to Garland when building the sawmill in the latter township in 1802. The third line of approach was from a point on the Kennebec River through the towns of Harmony, Ripley and Dexter to Garland. The Gordon and Chandler families passed along this line to reach Garland in 1805. Early Roads Many of the most serious hardships of pioneer life result from the absence of roads. This is especially true of communities surrounded by other communities in like destitute condition. The first settlers of Garland were obliged to travel many a weary mile to find a road over which a vehicle, other than a clumsy oxsled or wagon, could be used. During the unorganized condition of the township, but little was done in the way of road-making. A few public-spirited residents, conspicuous among whom was Edward Fifield of West Garland, did what they could to induce other residents to contribute voluntary labor to the making of roads, but their success was not encour- aging. A large majority of the residents preferred to await the application of a compulsory process. 332 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE History of the Principal Existing Roads The first road established by the town was the road from Dexter through the center of Garland to Charles- ton. It is six miles in length and was established April 22, 1811. Living upon or near the route of this road in 1811, were Joshua Silver, Jeremiah Flanders, Thomas S. Tyler, Amos Gordon, Simeon Morgan, Joseph Gar- land, Jacob Garland, John Tyler, Oliver Woodward, Joseph Tread well, Josiah Bartlett and John M. Chase. Second Road The route of the second road established on the same date was one mile north of the center road and parallel to it. Beginning at the west line of the town, it ran easterly between the eighth and ninth ranges of lots, on the summit of the range of hills in the northerly part of the town, to a point near the base of High Cut. There were living on or near this route in 1811 the families of Thomas Gilpatrick, William Dustin, Philip Greeley, Justus Harriman, John Chandler, Samuel Mansfield, Rev. John Sawyer, William Blaisdell and Joseph Saunders. The route of this road was established in accordance with the policy of the original proprietors, who had checked the township into lots of a mile square by range- ways for roads. Some sections of this route, in the easterly part of the town, were found impracticable for public travel and were never used for this purpose. The families in the easterly part of the town, living on or near the abandoned section of this route, are supplied with roads running north from the east and west center road to the line of the abandoned route. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 333 Road to Dexter The third road established in 1811, is the road run- ning from the center of Garland village to the west line of the town towards Dexter village. The families living on the line of this road in 1811 were those of William Godwin, James Holbrook, Enoch Clough, Moses Gordon, John S. Haskell and Isaac Copeland. Two short pieces of road were established in the southwest part of the town in 1811. Living upon the lines of these roads were the families of Edward Fifield, John Hayes and Cutteon Flanders. The fifth road established on the 22d day of April, 1811, is the road with slight variations, beginning where D. F. Patten now lives at the top of the hill about two miles directly north from the center of the present vil- lage and extending southerly through the village to a point about one half mile south. Some years later this road was extended to Exeter line. An angle in it, a half mile below the village, gave the road a southeas- terly direction. It crossed the south line of the town about one and one half miles west of its southeast ■corner. The families living on or near this road in 1811, were those of the Rev. John Sawyer, Abner Bond, John Jackman, Ezekiel Straw, Isaac Wheeler, William Church, John Grant and John Knight. About 1816, the section of this road extending from the center of Garland village to its south line, became a section of the county road from western Piscataquis to Bangor which has been known as the old county road to Bangor. The sixth road established in 1811 was described as extending from Thomas S. Tyler's to Enoch Jackman's. Enoch Jackman then lived in the house afterward occu- pied by Henry Calef and Asa Cram, located on the 334 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE opposite side of the road from the present residence of Edwin Greeley, and a little to the south of it. The seventh and last road, established in 1811, extended easterly from a point a little south of the vil- lage mills, to the site of the Burnham Cemetery, thence northerly to the point of intersection with the east and west center road. There were but two families living upon this road in 1811, William Sargent upon the site of the present residence of James Rideout, and James McCluer on the site of the present residence of David Allen. A few years later the section of this road run- ning easterly to the cemetery near the schoolhouse in district seven, gave place to the present road. These roads were established at the first town meeting by the authority of the town, the previous meeting hav- ing assembled under the authority of the State of Massa- chusetts. Their aggregate length was about twenty miles, equal to fully one-fourth of the aggregate mileage of the roads of the town to-day. The inquiry naturally arises why so many miles of road were required for the number of families living in the town in 1811. This is easily explained. By the policy of the original proprietors every alternate range of lots from east to west was withheld from sale with the expectation that these lots would ultimately bring higher prices. This policy had the effect to scatter the homes of the early settlers widely over the town. The road that leads from the southwest corner of the mills at West Garland was established in 1816. This road originally terminated at the Murdock place but upon the completion of the Avenue road in 1842 this section was discontinued. The road running north from the east and west Center road, passing the present residence of George Ricker, was established in 1819. This was the first road lead- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 335 ing north from the east and west center road toward the summit of the hilly range. The road running north from the east and west center road, passing the residence of E. B. Strout, was established in 1821. The road running north from the east and west center road on the east line of the town was established in 1825 for the convenience of the Robert Seward place, later occupied by the late J. Clark Richardson. The road running north from the east and west center road from a point a few rods east of the schoolhouse in school district No. 4, to the summit of the hilly range, was established in 1826. Among the early residents on this road, were the families of Eben Battles, Jacob Quimby, Samuel, Isaac, John and Stephen Ladd, David Stewart, John Perry and John Whiting. The road extending from Garland vil- lage to the south line of the town toward Exeter Corner was established on the route now traveled, in 1830. The early families living on or near this road were those of Benjamin H. Oak, George Curtis, David Johnson, Samuel W. Knight, Israel Colley, Zebulon Knight and Elijah Norton. The northwest county road, which was a section of the county road extending from Dover to Dexter, was established about the year 1830, by authority of the county of Penobscot. In 1824 the road extending east- erly from Garland village to the site of the Burnham Cemetery was continued to the site of the present resi- dence of Thomas B. Packard, and in 1830 it was con- tinued to the east line of the town. There have been slight changes in the route of this road from time to time, the most important of which was made in 1855 from the foot of the hill, known as the Preble hill, to the Oak store. Among the earlier residents upon this road were the 336 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE families of Enoch Clough, the Rev. S. Rice, Daniel Ladd, Stephen Smith, William Sargent, Joseph Sargent, Joseph Prescott, Jeremiah Avery, Gilbert Wallace, Edward Richardson, Mark Burnham, George R. Coffin, Leonard Skillin, George Field and Henry Hicks. The south road from Garland village to West Garland was established in 1823. The early families upon this road were those of Elisha Nye, Benjamin Pressey, Andrew Smith, Charles Shepherd, Noah Parkman, Shepherd Parkman, Albert Parkman, Oreson Parkman, William, Gideon, David and John Soule, Jonathan Lvford and the Rev. Asa Burnham. mi The Avenue road was established by the county in 1835. The section within the limits of Garland is about four miles in length. It was not passable for heavy teams until 1844. The road from the site of Evergreen Cemetery to the Crowell mill site was established about the year 1834 and was continued to the old county road a few years later. The early families upon or near this road were those of Josiah, Samuel and James Skillin, James Pillsbury and Solomon Allen. The road running from the schoolhouse at West Garland, to the west line of the town toward Dexter village was established in 1833. The early families upon this road were those of Daniel M. and William S. Haskell. The road running from the schoolhouse in district No. 10 to the north line of the town toward Dover vil- lage, was established in 1837. The early families upon this road were those of James Straw, Samuel Bridge, Stephen A. Berry, Simon French, James Hall, William Hunt and Richard Bickell. The road extending southerly from the northwest corner of the farm owned by Thomas B. Packard to the south line of the town was established in 1837. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 337 The road running west on the north line of the town from the Dover to the Sangerville road was established in 1844. The early families upon this road were those of Mr. Merrill and Hermon Beal on the Dover side and George W. Ricker and George W. Ireland on the Gar- land side. The county road leading from the southeast corner of the town to Garland village was established in two sections at different dates. The first section, termi- nating at Holt's Mills, was established in 1858. Four years later the route was continued to Garland village. The notch county road derives its name from the notch or cut through the hilly range traversing the northerly section of the town from east to west. This road was established in 1846 by the joint action of the county commissioners of Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties. Its construction had just been completed at large expense when the advent of the Bangor & Piscata- quis Railroad rendered it practically useless. The Present Trend of Merchandise Since the advent of railroads to this section the trend of merchandise has been to and from the various railroad stations instead of Bangor as a common center. Hence the town roads leading to and from railroad stations have become of more importance to the public than the earlier county roads, the latter being but little used except for local travel. There have been but few calls for new roads since the completion of the notch road. The total length of roads in town is fully sixty miles. The history of the roads in Garland, which has been briefly given, includes 338 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE the date of their establishment, their extent, the hard- ships of the earlier settlers in opening channels of com- munication with each other and the inhabitants of other towns, the dates of the settlement of the different sec- tions of the town, the names of the families who settled upon these roads, and the date when the transportation of heavy merchandise was transferred from the county roads to town roads leading to railroad stations. A Sketch of the History of the Congrega- tional Church of Garland The early records of this church were accidentally burned. Its early history is therefore mainly tradi- tional. The incidents herein given were obtained many years ago from the lips of some of its original members and their accuracy is confirmed by testimony from inde- pendent sources. Religious meetings were not of frequent or regular occurrence during the first years of the settlement. Many of the early settlers of the town- ship, then known as Lincolntown, having been religiously educated in the distant homes of their childhood keenly felt their destitution of religious privileges. The Christian Sabbath, which they had formerly observed as a day of rest and devoted to religious and spiritual improvement, now gave no sign of its presence save by a partial cessation of the ordinary employments of the week and the interchange of visits among the scattered families. Such was the condition of affairs when in the winter of 1806 the Rev. Samuel Sewall, one of the ubiquitous family of ministers of that name, first visited the town- HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 339 ship and preached, as good Deacon Haskell afterwards expressed it, "to the starving souls of the wilderness." Mr. Sewall was the first minister to visit the township. He preached at the residence of Joseph Garland. This was the first sermon in the township and the people from the scattering families heard him gladly. In their eagerness to hear the words of the living preacher, denominational preferences were forgotten. Mr. Sewall subsequently made several visits to the township. In sentiment he was a Congregationalist. Afterwards Mr. Lord of Harmony, a Methodist, preached several times in different parts of the township, once at Deacon Haskell's residence. A Mr. Cay ford preached occasionally in Mr. Garland's barn in the warm season of the year. The Rev. Mr. Kilby, a Methodist, and a brother of Mrs. Joseph Garland, preached occa- sionally in the township. No other ministers are known to have been in the township until the advent of the Rev. John Sawyer in the year 1809. Mr. Sawyer bore with him a commis- sion from the Maine Missionary Society, then recently organized, and entered upon his work in the wilderness with characteristic zeal. Through his efforts a church was organized in the month of March, 1810, at the resi- dence of Joseph Garland, the first settler. The ministers officiating at the organization were Reverends John Sawyer, Hezekiah May of Brownville township, Jonathan Fisher of Bluehill, and perhaps Mighill Blood of Bucks- port. At the date of this organization there were only two Congregational churches within the present limits of Penobscot County. One at Brewer, organized Septem- ber 7, 1800, and one at Dixmont, organized November 16, 1807, which is now extinct. The church at Garland was called the Congregational church of Lincolntown 340 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE and vicinity until the incorporation of the town in 1811 and its organization has been perpetuated to the present time. It included in its membership residents of other towns. The persons uniting with the church at the time of its organization were John S. Haskell, Joshua Silver and wife, Jacob Silver, Theophilus Morgan, Mrs. Nancy Gordon, Mrs. Justus Harriman, Mrs. Garland, Mrs. Bond and Mrs. Morgan. A meeting was held in July, 1810, to complete the organization, when John Pratt, Mrs. Ezekiel Straw, Mrs. Weatherbee of Elkinstown, now Dexter, and Mrs. Haskell, probably Deacon John S. Haskell's wife, were admitted to membership. At this meeting, nineteen persons, adults and children, received the ordinance of baptism. The ministers in attendance were Reverends John Sawver and Hezekiah Bailev of New Castle. A few years later members were received into this church from Piscataquis County. Among these were Deacon Carpenter and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Bradbury, Mrs. Chamberlain and Mrs. Sherburne from Foxcroft; Mrs. Bolton, Mrs. Buck and others from Dover, and Mr. Loring and wife from Guilford. This relatively large addition was the occasion of great interest and encouragement to the little church in the wilderness and the sympathy between those who came and those who received was warm and active. The late Rev. Amasa Loring, the historian of Piscataquis County, said in a letter to the writer, "This was the heroic age of Christian life in this new region. If a notice was sent forward that a lecture would be preached at a certain time and place, the news was spread from house to house, and when the preacher arrived, all who could were sure to be present. When a communion season occurred, distant members, both men and women, would ride on horseback twelve or fifteen HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 341 miles over rough and miry paths, guided on their dubi- ous way by spotted trees to attend church conference on Saturday afternoon, tarry with Christian friends over night, participate in the solemnities of the Sabbath and retrace their steps homeward on Monday morning through those gloomy fores tways, cheered and strength- ened by the spiritual repast they had just enjoyed. In winter, whole families were sometimes carried those long distances on sleds drawn by oxen that they might enjoy Christian communion and fellowship, and that parents might secure the rite of baptism for their children." In after days, one good old church member of Foxcroft, when recounting the incidents of his journeys to Garland to attend meetings would, in his enthusiasm, get a little mixed. On one such occasion he averred that he would hitch his oxen to the sled and drive to Garland with his children and wife, good woman, she's gone to heaven now by a spotted line. The church at Garland was blessed with a healthy growth for several years under the ministrations of Father Sawyer. He may have received the assistance of other ministers but to what extent or by whom, tradition does not inform us. In 1822, the church suffered severe loss by the withdrawal of the members, eighteen in number, liv- ing in the Piscataquis valley, to organize a church after- wards known as the church of Foxcroft and vicinity. The first pastor of the new church at Foxcroft was the Rev. Thomas Williams. This withdrawal left but a single male member in the church at Garland, Deacon John S. Haskell. According to the Congregational policy of the times it required at least two male members to make valid the dismissal of members to other church organizations. Happily Ansel Field and wife became residents of Garland about that time and soon united with the church. The difficulty in the way of giving 342 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE the Piscataquis members a formal dismission was thus overcome. At the time of the dismissal of these members Deacon Pratt of Foxcroft was clerk of the Garland church and had its records at his house which was burned shortly after and the records were thus lost. This explains the absence of the church's records for the first twelve years of its existence. In the period from 1810 to 1822 some of the original resident members of the church renounced Congregationalism and embraced the Universalist faith. This was another source of depletion, and was undoubt- edly due to the severity of Father Sawyer's religious creed. But in spite of these discouragements the little church lost neither faith nor hope. It was strengthened from time to time by in-coming residents who entered its ranks. At a meeting of the legal voters of the town of Garland, held August 6, 1825, it was voted to give the Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins a call to become its minister upon certain specified conditions having reference to his sup- port. Isaac Wheeler, Esq., Deacon John S. Haskell, Walter Holbrook, Ansel Field and Justus Harriman, were appointed a committee to wait on Mr. Wilkins and acquaint him with the action of the town, and ascertain whether the conditions were satisfactory. At an adjourned meeting, held August 11, the com- mittee reported that Mr. Wilkins had indicated his acceptance of the necessary conditions, whereupon the town voted to give him a call to become its minister. Isaac Wheeler, Esq., Justus Harriman and Daniel Ladd were appointed to inform Mr. Wilkins of this action of the town. The town also voted to pay Mr. Wilkins one hundred and eighty dollars for one year, one third in money, and the other two thirds in grain, labor, or what should be necessary for his support and comfort as a HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 343 minister of the Gospel. By virtue of this action Mr. Wilkins became Garland's first settled minister. He had been educated at the Bangor Theological Seminary, and was Congregationalist in creed. He, with candidates of other denominations, had occasionally preached in town. Up to this time the Congregational church had been the only organized church in town. It was fitting that the preference of this church should be consulted in the selection of a minister. Mr. Wilkins was installed on October 12, 1825, under the auspices of the Congregational church. It was an occasion of great interest. A platform had been built where the Congregational meetinghouse now stands and was sheltered by a bower of evergreen boughs. In front of it was a large and interested audience. Rev. Pro- fessor Smith of the Bangor Seminary, the Rev. S. L. Pomroy of Bangor, Rev. Thomas Williams of Foxcroft, and Rev. N. W. Sheldon with numerous lay delegates composed the council. Professor Smith preached the sermon which was afterwards published. It will be seen by the foregoing statements that Garland's first settled minister was settled by the town. For an explanation of this we must go back to a former century. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was the owner of the Province of Maine until the Act of Separ- ation in 1820. The public men of that State took great interest in their Eastern Province and were always ready to aid in measures to promote the welfare of the towns which were springing into existence over its surface. In the year 1 796 that State gave the township we now call Garland to Williams College, located in the town of Williamston, Mass. It was then a wilderness without a human habi- tation or even a name. It was designated as township number three, in the fifth range of townships north of 344 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE the Waldo Patent. Among the conditions of this gift to the college was the reservation of three lots of land of three hundred and twenty acres each for certain public purposes. One of these lots was reserved for the benefit of the first settled minister, to which Mr. Wilkins was clearly entitled. In his engagement however he cov- enanted to deed to the town three eighths of this lot. The reason for this is not shown by the records and must therefore be a matter of inference. He would need means for the support of his family before he could realize anything from the sale of his land. The pre- sumption is that he relinquished to the town three eighths of the land that belonged to him as the first settled minister, in consideration of the sum of one hun- dred and eighty dollars promised him by the town for one year's service. It is also probable that this sum was raised by voluntary subscription. There are no records to show that the town, as a municipality, con- tributed to his support after the first year. Having been installed, Mr. Wilkins entered upon his work with zeal and hope. He resided in the house as it then was, now occupied by the Clark family in the upper part of the village. The place of his regular ministra- tion upon the Sabbath was at the old Center schoolhouse which was located at the geographical center of the town, and which at that time, afforded the largest audi- ence room in town. Mr. Wilkins was a man of pleasing address, dignified bearing, good abilities and a ready off hand speaker. His relations with his people were of a pleasant character. The expenses of a growing family, transcending the ability of his parishioners to pay, his pastorate termi- nated September 2, 1830. At this time there were three evangelical churches in the town, the Baptist, Free Will Baptist, afterwards known as the Free Baptist, and HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 345 the Congregational church. There was also a Methodist organization in the town. The first three denominations mentioned, united for the purpose of sustaining meet- ings, each in turn supplying someone to preach to the people when practicable, or to conduct religious services when no minister appeared. The Maine Missionary Society furnished preaching for a few Sabbaths each year. Among those sent by this society were the Reverends Calvin White, Lewis Pennell, John A. Vinton, Aurelius Swift and James Caruthers, a native of Scotland. The aid furnished by the Missionary Society was supplemented by the voluntary subscription of the people. Mr. Caruthers attracted the attention of his hearers by his great size, fervid zeal and Scotch dialect. While as a general rule the current of brotherly sym- pathy ran smoothly along through this trio of religious societies, there was occasionally a ripple of disturbance. At the close of a preaching service Mr. Caruthers announced that he would preach to this people in one week when a Baptist brother sprang to his feet and gave notice that a minister of his denomination was expected to occupy the desk at the same time. Mr. Caruthers then announced that he would preach from this desk in two weeks. A Free Baptist brother arose to say that a minister of his denomination had an appointment to preach here in two weeks. Instantaneously the tower- ing form of Mr. Caruthers presented itself to the audi- ence, and in his Scotch dialect, intensified by excitement, he announced that "in three weeks from this day, i will preach to this people if r can find the branch of A TREE TO SHELTER ME 'EAD. " At the termination of the arrangement whereby the three societies had held religious meetings together the Congregational society worshipped by itself for a time. 346 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE At the meetings of the society on the Sabbath Deacon Stephen Smith, a good reader, procured the printed sermons of eminent ministers and read them to the people. Meetings thus conducted were interesting and profi table. "Protracted meetings,'' extending through four or five days, were of yearly occurrence, and were partici- pated in by the religious people of the town. One of these meetings was favored by the presence of the Rev. Jotham Sewall. Mr. Sewall was a man of large size and impressive personality and was known throughout the State for his earnest and effective appeals to religious life. The writer, then a boy of sixteen, was a listener to one of his sermons. At the end of one of his most impassioned appeals an incident invested with a dramatic element occurred. He had listened, he said, to a sermon by Whitefield who, after an earnest appeal to the unconverted, suddenly paused and bringing one foot forcibly to the floor, exclaimed, "Stop; Gabriel, stop; do not return to the heavenly portals until you can carry the news that, at least one soul has been converted." In 1835, inspired by the faith, zeal, and indomitable courage of the veteran missionary of Eastern Maine, the Rev. John Sawyer, the church and society entered upon measures for building a meetinghouse. A company was organized to be known as the Congregational Meeting House Company of Garland. A constitution and by- laws were adopted to go into effect when the company should be legally incorporated. It was provided that the stock should be divided into twenty-four shares of fifty dollars each, and that when eighteen or more shares should have been taken, the location of the building should be fixed, its size and style determined, and a building committee appointed. One of the by-laws forbade the use of ardent spirits in raising the house, or HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 347 in any part of the work connected with its construction. There was considerable preliminary discussion as to the size and style of the building. The members of the church and society were struggling to meet the ordinary demands upon their resources. All felt the necessity of economy of expenditure in its construction. Some favored a very small and plain building, bare of belfry or steeple. Others contended that its size must be determined by prospective as well as present necessities, and that a bell would be among the wants of the future, which would require a belfry. Louis Goulding, a member of the church, who was always ready with a facetious remark upon subjects com- ical or serious, said that "The purpose was to build a house for God. Without belfry or steeple it would be God's barn and not God's house." The size and style, and all necessary preliminary matters, were at length determined, and plans were prepared. Benjamin H. Oak was appointed treasurer, who with the Rev. John Sawyer and William Godwin were constituted a build- ing committee. The eighteen shares, the condition precedent to building, had been taken and the work was entered upon at once. Austin Newell of Monson, an experienced builder, was employed to take charge of the construction of the build- ing. The original subscribers to the stock were Deacon Smith, Deacon John S. Haskell, and the Rev. John Sawyer, who subscribed for two shares each, and George Curtis, Josiah Merriam, Joseph True, Jr., James Greeley, Abraham True, Lewis Goulding, Benjamin H. Oak, Isaac Wheeler, William Godwin, Jacob Greeley, Raymond Copeland, J. Holyoke, and H. N. Pake, who subscribed for one share each. The two last named subscribers were citizens of Brewer. The foundation of the meetinghouse was built 348 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE and the frame raised and covered in 1835. Here the work rested until the following spring. The raising of the building called together a large number of willing helpers as well as spectators. A bountiful dinner and an abundant supply of hot coffee took the place of the stimulants which, in earlier days, were deemed necessary to the successful raising of large buildings. In the spring of 1836 work was renewed on the church by Mr. Newell, who had entered upon a contract to complete the building. Early in 1837 the new church was finished and dedicated. Occupying a commanding site in the center of the village, its modest belfry has through all the years indicated the high purpose of its construction, and announced to the passing stranger that there are people in this community who know the Christian's Sabbath and worship the Christian's God. When the church was completed considerable money was realized from the sale of pews to individuals. Still the Meeting House Company found itself in debt and several years passed before the debt was fully paid. Father Sawyer appealed to acquaintances in Bangor and Brewer for aid to pay the debt who responded in five and ten dollar subscriptions. Edward Hill of New York, a brother of Mrs. Josiah Merriam, contributed liberally to this fund. The late Colonel John S. Kimball of Bangor is authority for the statement that Father Sawyer's zeal in aid of building the church, led him to mortgage his farm to raise money to pay his subscription to the building fund and that a short time previous to his death a pension from the Government for services in the war of the Revolution enabled his friends to pay the balance due on the mort- gage and redeem the farm. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 349 Pastorate of the Rev. S. S. Drake In 1837, the Rev. S. S. Drake became the acting pastor of the parish. He had previously labored here under the auspices of the Maine Missionary Society. He was installed as pastor February 24, 1841, and rilled the pastorate until March, 1847, when his relations to the parish were severed. Mr. Drake was a pleasing and popular preacher, and his relations to the church had, in the main, been pleasant and satisfactory, but unfor- tunately cases of discipline were followed by dissensions that could not be healed so long as he remained its pastor. The Congregational meetinghouse was ready for occu- pancy about the time that Mr. Drake commenced his term of service, and he preached from its pulpit for a period of about ten years. Mr. Drake was followed by Mr. P. B. Thayer, then a recent graduate of Bangor Theological Seminary. Before the completion of his course at the seminary he was introduced to members of the Congregational church by a personal friend whom he was visiting, and by invitation, he occasionally preached from the Congregational pulpit. These pulpit efforts were followed by a unanimous call to the pastorate of the church. Accepting the call, his ordination and installation took place on December 21, 1848. The members of the council on this interesting occa- sion were the Revs. Wooster Parker of the Foxcroft and Dover church, E. G. Carpenter of the Dexter church, W. S. Sewall of the Brownville church and Horatio Illsley of the Monson church. Revs. Henry White and Enselius Hale were present. The pastorate, so auspi- ciously opened in 1848, extended to May, 1896, a period of almost forty-eight years without a break ; the longest pastorate then existing in New England in the Congre- 350 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE gational line save one in Massachusetts, and it is not too much to say, a pastorate whose harmony was very seldom disturbed by discordant sounds. The persons who have officiated as deacons of this church are John S. Haskell, Joel Pratt, Stephen Smith, George Curtis, Samuel Coan, John Rideout, Luther Rideout, Boardman Wood and Martin Rideout, none of whom are now living. The present deacon is Stephen R. Came. The clerks have been Joel Pratt, Stephen Smith, Rev. P. B. Thayer and Miss Sarah A. Curtis. Miss Curtis served long and efficiently and is still clerk at this time, (1911). The Rev. T. W. Harwood followed Mr. Thayer as pastor. Mr. Harwood was a graduate of the Bangor Theo- logical Seminary, and his religious views were in harmony with the teachings of that institution. He was a man of fine abilities. His sermons were logical, instructive and uplifting and he never failed to hold the attention of his audience while speaking. From his large fund of information he drew material for frequent interesting and instructive lectures upon moral, religious and secular subjects. Historical Sketch of the Free baptist Church At the opening of the present century the Free Bap- tist denomination was in its infancy. The simplicity of its creed and the earnestness of the appeals of its ministers attracted to its membership many of the earlier inhabitants of Garland. In 1809, the Rev. Asa Burnham from Nottingham, N. H., a minister of the Free Baptist denomination and an excellent man, moved into the township, and commenced making a home for his family upon land formerly owned by Robert Seward. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 351 Josiah Bartlett, afterwards known as Elder Josiah Bartlett, was the first citizen of the new township to express a preference for the Free Baptist creed in a public manner, and this he did by receiving the ordi- nance of baptism at the home of Elder Burnham on the last day of December, 1809. A little later his wife, Mrs. Sally Bartlett, was baptized by the Rev. Samuel Hutchins of New Portland, Maine. The Free Baptists of that time had no organized system of missions. This, and other towns, were visited from time to time bv ministers drawn thither, in the parlance of the times, by the leadings of Providence. Among them were Elders Joseph Farewell, Samuel Hutchins and Lincoln Lewis. From 1820 to 1825 prayer and conference meetings were held at the Center and other schoolhouses, which were freely participated in by members of other denominations. The spirit of union which prevailed at that early day has happily been perpetuated to the present time. In 1825, it had become the settled conviction of several persons that a church of the Free Will Bap- tist denomination should become a verity. Acting upon this conviction a council consisting of Elder John Page and Deacons Ebenezer Towle and Joseph Walker of Exeter assembled on the 9th day of April, 1825, when a church was organized, and given the name of the Free Will Baptist church of Garland. The persons uniting with this church at this time were Josiah Bartlett, Joseph Strout, Joseph Johnson, Sally Bartlett, Grace Ladd, Lucy Silver, Sally Strout and Harriet Chandler. A large and flourishing church has grown from this beginning. Joseph Strout was its first clerk and to Josiah Bartlett was committed its pastoral care. It promptly sought connection with the Exeter Quarterly meeting, whose 552 HISTOEY OF GARLAND, MAINE organization was probably only a year earlier. Such connection was effected in June of the following year. For some years thereafter it enjoyed the ministration of Elder John Page, who became a resident of Garland and a member of the church in 1826. The Rev. Leonard Hathaway made his first visit to Garland and preached one or more Sabbaths to the Free Will Baptist people in the year 1828. His fervid and earnest appeals made an impression upon those who heard him that was never forgotten. In the first five years of this church about forty persons were admitted to membership by baptism and twenty by letter. In the following five years there was a decrease in numbers. In 1830, Samuel V. Nason a member of the church, was licensed to preach and was ordained to the work of the ministry in the following June. A Sabbath-school was organized in 1830 and John P. Smith was chosen superintendent. In 1834, the church was afflicted by the death of their esteemed minister, Elder John Page. Elder Page was bom in Wentworth, N. H., Febru- ary 11, 1787. He was for a time a resident of Alton, N. H. In 1824 he moved to Corinna. After a year's residence at Corinna he moved to Exeter and thence to Garland in 1826. From 1830 to 1835 there were no additions to this church. At the end of its first ten years the church numbered thirty-one members. Its record indicates that from the year 1834 it had no regular preaching until the coming of Elder Moses Ames in 1839. In the intervening time there had been occasional preaching by ministers who were laboring in the vicinity. In 1 84-0, ten persons were added to the church. Measures were entered upon for building a meetinghouse in 1840, which materialized in 1841. It was located about a mile east of the geographical HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 353 center of the town and was dedicated in January, 1842. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. Abel Turner. The first church conference in the new house, held in February, 1842, was an occasion of great interest. Two persons presented themselves for baptism at this conference and candidates for this ordinance pre- sented themselves at each conference thereafter until July, when Moses Twombly and John Batchelder were chosen deacons. This period of prosperity so auspiciously begun was followed by a season of severe trial. Many members abandoned the church to enter the ranks of that wild religious craze known as Millerism. Some of the more intelligent of those who had been carried off their feet by this turbid current returned to the church and its ordinances. From the date of the death of Elder John Page the church was destitute of a pastor until the com- ing of Elder Moses Ames in 1839. During this period of destitution the church was favored by occasional preaching by different ministers, among whom was Elder Harvey of Atkinson, who preached in 1836, and bap- tized several persons. The Rev. Mr. Nason and other ministers supplied the pulpit occasionally. In 1842, John I. D. Sanford was elected clerk of the church, a position which he held for many years. Mr. Sanford had previously been officially connected with the Free Will Baptist church in Bangor. Elder Josiah Bartlett, who had exercised the general pastoral care over the church from the date of its organ- ization, relinquished such care to Elder T. W. Dore in 1842. During the second decade in the history of the church there were fifty-nine additions by baptism and twenty-nine by letter. In 1845, Elder T. W. Dore became pastor of the church. Josiah Bartlett was its 354 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE presiding elder, Moses Twombly and John Batchelder, its deacons, and John I. D. Sanford, its clerk. The church had hardly recovered from the numerous defections through the influence of Millerism before it was confronted by the deaths of several of its oldest and most esteemed members. On the 25th of August, 1846, Deacon Moses Twombly dropped from the ranks. He had been one of the pillars of the church and his loss was deeply deplored. In less than twenty days thereafter Elder Bartlett, who had been the prime mover in bringing his loved church into existence, closed his eyes upon all earthly affairs. His death occurred September 12, 1846. Elder Moses Ames was called to the pastorate of the church April 14, 1846. On October 6 of the same year Robert Seward and Zebulon Knight were chosen deacons. In March the church voted to support its minister by the taxation of its members, and that his compensation should be two dollars per Sabbath, which was considered a liberal compensation. A subsequent vote allowed him eighty cents per day for pastoral visits but this vote was afterwards recalled by request of Elder Ames. The ministers of the denomination were expected to provide themselves with farms from which the support of their families was largely derived. In 1849, twenty-seven persons became members of the church by profession and several others by letter. In June of 1849 the Rev. Joseph Cook became a resident of the town and a member of the Free Will Baptist church. He soon came to be esteemed as a warm- hearted and intelligent member of the Free Baptist church and a well balanced citizen of the town. He was an earnest friend of the slave and of the temperance reform. In August, 1849, eight citizens of Bangor became members of the Garland Free Baptist church HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 355 and a branch thereof. Seven years later they withdrew to unite with the church of their own locality. Elder Moses Ames retired from the pastorate of the church in 1850 and was followed by Elder T. W. Dore. Elder Ames was a man of sanguine temperament, liberal views, and was tolerant towards other denomi- nations. He was in active and earnest sympathy with the anti-slavery and temperance movements. In 1851, Elder Cook was employed to preach one fourth of the time. In 1852, Elder Leonard Hathaway united with the church and became its pastor. He brought to its service a vigorous constitution and a religious fervor and enthusiasm which insured a large measure of success. There is a tradition that at a meeting held ten months subsequent to the beginning of his pastorate, he vehe- mently exclaimed, "Souls must be born or I cannot live." Inspired by this feeling he labored with a zeal and earnestness that was followed by a religious awakening that resulted in the addition of twenty-five members to the church by baptism and others were received by letter. In March, 1854, John Batchelder was licensed to preach by the Exeter Quarterly meeting. In 1855, the church voted to employ Elder Hathaway every Sabbath. The membership at the end of the third decade was ninety-seven, a net gain of thirty-one in ten years. In 1859, Elder Hathaway 's salary was raised to three hundred dollars. In March, 1862, he was allowed a vacation of two months on account of impaired health. In 1863, he closed his labors with the church, having had the pastorate care of it for a period of eleven years, a period of religious prosperity during which there had been nearly one hundred accessions. His intimate rela- tions with his people were not easily terminated. They 356 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE were earnestly desirous of retaining him but he believed that duty called him to another field, and where duty called he was accustomed to go, and going he bore with him the warm sympathies and best wishes of his sorrow- ful people. Elder Hathaway was succeeded by the Rev. Appleton W. Reed, who had been a minister of the Christian denomination. After passing a satisfactory examination he was received into the Free Baptist church of Garland on the 2d of May, 1863, and entered at once upon his pastoral duties. In 1864, his salary was fixed at two hundred and fifty dollars, with the understanding that this sum would be generously supplemented yearly by donations. The church, which had numbered ninety-seven in 1855, had reached the number of one hundred and fifteen in 1865. The death of Deacon Zebulon Knight occurred in August, 1865, at the end of nineteen years of service in this capacity. His successor was George W. Otis. In the year 1866, both minister and people had come to believe that the village of Garland should be made the central point of influence and effort. Elder Reed, between whom and Rev. P. B. Thayer, of the Congregational church, the most friendly relations existed, is authority for the statement that the idea of making the village the headquarters of his church and people was first suggested by his friend, the Rev. P. B. Thayer. Then, as now, the Free Baptist people were the most numerous in the easterly part of the town, a fact that explained why their first meetinghouse had been built two and one half miles from the village. But now the attendance had become largely increased and demanded larger accommodations. The decision was reached to build a meetinghouse of larger size at the village, to take the place of the original house. Elder HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 357 Reed was appointed to solicit subscriptions to the build- ing fund. Greenbacks were then plenty. Entering upon his work with confidence and zeal, he had at the end of three and one half days the happiness of pre- senting to his people subscriptions amounting to more than five thousand dollars. The subscriptions were paid with creditable prompt- ness. The work of construction was promptly begun and carried to an early completion. Only a small debt remained to disturb the equanimity of the contributors to the building fund. The new house was complete in size, attractive in appearance and an ornament to the village. It was dedicated on December 15, 1866. Rev. A. W. Reed preached the dedicatory sermon. Revs. A. L. Gerrish, P. B. Thayer, G. S. Bryant and A. P. Tracy assisted in the services. It may be said in this connection that years later Mr. B. P. Hubbard of Stetson, formerly a member of the Free Baptist church of Garland, generously furnished a bell for this church. In 1867, the salary of Elder Reed was raised to four hundred dollars, to be increased by the donations of a generously disposed community. In 1867, Josiah Davis was chosen deacon of the church. In 1871, Elder Reed resigned his pastorate to accept a position at the State College in Orono. During his stay in Garland his rela- tions to his own people and to the community generally were of the most pleasant character and his resignation was the occasion for general regret. The Rev. Leonard Hathaway was again called to the pastoral charge of the church but his relations thereto were continued only a single year, which together with his former pastorate, made twelve years of pastoral care over the Free Baptist church of Garland. His people would gladly have retained him but advancing years and increasing infirmities led him to decline further service. 358 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Elder Hathaway was followed by W. C. Hulse, who was ordained to the ministry, and elected pastor of the church on March 13, 1872. Elder Hulse was an earnest laborer in the work of the church and Sabbath- school. Soon after his entrance upon his labors here one hundred dollars was raised to enlarge the Sabbath - school library. During a pastorate of about twelve months eight persons were added to the church. In March, 1873, he resigned his pastorate and was followed by the Rev. Leonard Hutchins of New Portland, Maine, who entered upon his labors here in August, 1873, and was elected pastor in September, 1873. Upon the opening of his pastorate he found that there was an unpaid balance of about four hundred dollars due upon the cost of building the new church. This was soon liquidated. Elder Hutchins' labors extended into out- lying districts with gratifying results. The year 1875 marked the semi-centennial existence of the Free Baptist church. This anniversary was made an occasion of great interest. The address by the Rev. Leonard Hutchins was replete with interesting facts and incidents connected with the history of the church. The interest of the occasion was greatly increased by the presence of the Rev. Leonard Hathaway, who had been its pastor for twelve years, and familiar with its history for a much longer period, and whose narrations, drawn from the storehouse of a remarkable memory, were listened to with absorbing interest. At the date of this anniversary the church numbered one hundred and two members. The Sabbath-school numbered one hundred and twenty scholars. The church had during its history of fifty years seven pastors. The whole number received into the church in the first fifty years of its history was three hundred and HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 359 fifty-nine. The number dismissed by letter was ninety- five. The number dropped from its rolls as the result of discipline is not known to the writer. Through its whole past history it has been abreast with the best sentiment relating to current moral reforms. Garland in the War of the Rebellion Early in the season of 1861 ominous war clouds began to darken the southern sky. The more hopeful flattered themselves with the belief that all danger of war with the South would soon disappear, until the thunders of the bombardment of Fort Sumpter awakened them to the fact that it was already on, and the call for seventy- five thousand men indicated that they would have a part in it. Early Demonstrations The patriotic impulses of the people soon material- ized. Under the lead of Isaac W. Haskell a flag staff reaching one hundred and ten feet towards the blue of heaven was put in position. The women of the town, not a whit behind their masculine friends in patriotic manifestations, soon had a flag of appropriate dimen- sions waving from its top. A mass meeting was soon assembled when the large crowd listened to stirring speeches from Noah, David and Lewis Barker of Exeter, a Mr. Lowell of Foxcroft, and the Revs. P. B. Thayer and Leonard Hathaway of Garland. The speech of 360 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Lewis Barker, which was alleged to have been his first before a popular audience, was a speech of remarkable power. Calls for Men in 1861 The war soon began to present more serious aspects to the citizens of Garland. The calls for men to enter the ranks of the army were frequent. Forty-five men were mustered into the United States service in 1861. The male population in 1861 was seven hundred and eighty-five. Every seventeenth man entered the service in that eventful year. Action of the Town Relating to Families of the Men Who Had Enlisted in the Ranks of the Army in 1861 At a town meeting held November 16, 1861, the following vote was passed: "That Daniel M. Haskell, Daniel Silver and James J. Chandler be appointed a committee to whom the families of persons who have volunteered their services, or ma}7 hereafter volunteer their service in defense of their country, and who at the time of their enlistment are inhabitants of this town, may apply for aid, and upon such application it shall be the duty of said committee to visit the families so applying to ascertain if the aid asked for, or any aid is necessary, and when it is found necessary to aid such families; it shall be the duty of said committee to HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 361 report the amount and kind of aid necessary to the selectmen, whose duty it shall be promptly to provide such aid, and in granting such aid to such families no disabilities of any kind whatever shall be created by reason of aid so furnished and received." No provision for the reimbursement from the State treasury of money expended was made until March, 1862. On the 28th of July, 1862, the town voted to raise eight hundred dollars, and to pay each of the fifteen soldiers, or the town's quota, fifty-three dollars on being mustered into United States service, and authorized the treasurer to hire the sum above named. On the 8th of September, 1862, the town voted to pay a bounty of twenty dollars to each of our quota, sixteen in number, also voted to present to each of them, or their friends, eighty dollars after being mustered into the services of the United States. The town treasurer was authorized to hire sixteen hundred dollars. On the 9th of March, 1863, the town voted to raise five hundred dollars for the families of volunteers and the selectmen were appointed a committee to execute the purpose of the vote. On the 26th day of August, 1863, the town voted to pay one hundred dollars to every drafted man who entered the service of his country himself, or furnished a substitute, payable when he or his substitute was mustered into service. On November 23, 1863, the town voted that the sum of two hundred dollars be paid to each person who should enlist and be duly mustered into the service of the United States. On the 14th of March, 1864, the town appropriated five hundred dollars to pay State aid to the families of volunteers. On August 10th, 1864, the town voted to appropriate twenty-five dollars per man of this town's quota, to be used in recruiting men for the quota of 362 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Garland. On August 29th, 1864, the town voted to appropriate one hundred dollars per man, to encourage enlistment to fill its quota under the call of the Presi- dent for five hundred thousand men. It was voted to authorize the treasurer to raise a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars, to pay bounties to volunteers. Upon September 12th, 1864, the town voted upon a proposed amendment of the State constitution, allowing the citizens of Maine, absent therefrom in the military service of the United States, to vote wherever they might be on a specified day, for governor, senators and county officers. Upon this amendment the vote of Garland was two hundred and fourteen in favor, none against. On October 15th, 1864, the town voted a sum not to exceed three thousand, one hundred dollars, to pay bounties to volunteers. On the 31st day of December, 1864, the town voted to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to volunteers under the call of the President, also to pay two hundred and fifty dollars additional to each, provided the coast guards were sent to the front. The treasurer was authorized to hire four thousand dollars. On February 10th, 1865, the town voted to pay four hundred and fifty dollars to volunteers, drafted men and all enlisted men who furnished substitutes. The town of Garland furnished one hundred and forty-seven men to enter the ranks of those who fought for the preservation of the government which the patriots of the Revolution had risked their lives and all their earthly possessions to establish. Of those one hundred and forty -seven men, one hundred and twenty- eight were residents of Garland, and nineteen were sub- stitutes of residents of Garland from other places. HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 363 Names of Residents of Garland Who Volun- teered to Fight Under the Old Flag Adams, Isaiah Allen, William W. Allen, Ebenezer S. Atkins, Geo. E. Bragdon, Eugene Berry, Stephen G. Berry, Stephen A. Brown, Henry J. Bell, John H. Bosworth, Daniel A. Berrv. Arthur A. Berry, Thomas L. Burnham, B. W. Batchelder, Alonzo F. Brown, William Bell, Hiram F. Bartlett, John W. Batchelder, Edgar S. Batchelder, Alonzo Currier, Judson W. Clark, Joseph A. Clark, James H. Came, Stephen R. Cole, Jedediah Carr, William H. Chamberlain, Henry A. Coan, Elisha S. Coan, Frederick C. Campbell, John Champion, Sumner P. Champion, Richard K. Dearborn, Francis M. Fall, Isaac R. Gerry, John M. Grover, Luke M, Goodwin, Samuel W. Gee, James M. Grover, Cyrus S. Hatch, Geo. W. Handy, Wesley H. Hubbard, Benjamin T. Haskell, Frederick A. Hatch, Benjamin C. Haskell, Isaac W. Haskell, Bennett A. Haskell, Jason F. Haskell, Charles Hill, Edwin Harlow, Hosea Hall, Elijah Holt, Adelbert Hathaway, Asa Hoyt, Eben (Navy) Ireland, George Johnson, Jonathan G. Jones, Geo. W. Jackman, Justus H. Knox, Sumner TTnin-lit ToVin <^ (Credited to the iv night, jonn ». ,town of Gorhamj Lvford, Fifield Leighton, Warren C. Lovejoy, Levi Ladd, William R. Littlefield, Isaac Y. 364 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE Davis, John A. Dore, Seth Ellis, Alden B. Flanders, Robert G. Fox, Samuel French, Robert T. Fogg, Peleg Fogg, Alonzo M. Farmer, Randall Flanders, James H. French, Henry M. Flanders, Henrv E. Osgood, Edward Pennington, Christopher Palmer, Erastus L. Preble, Melvin Page, James W. Quimby, Jacob, Jr. Ramsdell, Henry Ramsdell, Seth Ramsdell, Job Ramsdell, Austin Ramsdell, Franklin Reed, Nicholas G. Rideout, Luther M. Sawtelle, Delbert H. Smith, Josiah Smith, John T. Smith, George Straw, Alfred B. Straw, Giles Skillin, William E. Miller, Henry B. Mansfield, William Morton, Mark P. Morton, Anderson P. Merriam, Leander O. Murphy, Joseph J. Mansfield, Hollis Merriam, Chas. E. McComb, John H. Osgood, Calvin R. Osgood, Wesley Osgood, Marquis D. L. Skillin, Francis M. Skillin, Joseph W. Skillin, Samuel L. Skillin, Thomas J. Skillin, Chas. E. Skillin, David Skillin, Hugh S. Skillin, William H. Swett, Henry A. Stillings, Roger Stillings, Ra}rmond Titcomb, Charles C. Titcomb, Leonard H. Titcomb, Frank W. Twomblv, John D. Tiplady, James A. Thomas, Frederick P. True, Joseph L. True, Benjamin Wellington, George HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE 365 A List of Drafted Men Who Furnished Sub- stitutes Principals Frank Garland John K. Gee John T. Amazine A. J. Flanders, 2d Frank Emerson Chas. H. Davis Joel W. Otis Samuel Y. Merrill Samuel Foss Henry Merrill Fred Fields Alonzo F. Park man Jonathan F. Crowell B. P. Hubbard John W. Seward Delbert M. Sawtelle Noah W. Johnson Leonard C. Hathaway Samuel O. Davis Substitutes James M. Blake Hiram F. Bell Oliver W. Cutts Martin W. Dugan Roscoe Doble George W. Fisher Dennis Griffin Josiah Lyons David R. Lane Edwin Marden Alonzo Morton Alphonzo L. Ober Lewis M. Porter Benjamin F. Russell Isaac W. Sandborn George W. Frost Mark P. Morton George W. Hatch George A. Drake A List of Non-resident Volunteers Assigned to Garland Frank Drew, navy Chas. A. Doliver, navy John Driscoll, navy Nathan G. Dver Nathaniel A. Kinney William G. Lee George F. Haley Samuel D. Rankin Thomas L. Pillsbury Stillman B. Judkins 366 HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE George S. Daniels James H. Roundy John Campbell Thomas A. Morton Ed son Holmes Reenlistments Henry B. Miller William Mansfield William H. Can- Joseph W. Skillin William E. 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